MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Japan intensified security at airports, nuclear plants and government facilities Feb. 20 as a precaution against a possible terror attack, a Japanese National Police Agency official said.
The official said this was the highest level of preparedness since the United States-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
"Be vigilant during this time," said Andrew Samuels, Station antiterrorism force protection officer. "If you see anything suspicious, call (the Provost Marshal's Office). That will give us the opportunity to look into it further, and validate those concerns."
Japan does not have clear levels of alert, as does the U.S. During the heightened alert, riot police armed with automatic rifles will guard Tokyo and Kansai international airports, nuclear power plants and reprocessing facilities, the official said.
Larger police forces were being mobilized around the prime minister's residence, U.S. Embassy, military facilities and national and local assembly buildings, the official said. Security was also increased at ports, railway stations and shopping malls.
"Currently, the Japanese are surrounding our perimeter by proactive control," said Samuels. "They're patrolling 24-hours a day with marked and unmarked vehicles. If anything seems out of the ordinary, they let us know."
Japan is sending 1,000 air, sea and ground forces to Iraq - its largest military deployment since World War II. In coming months, about 500 ground troops are expected to deploy to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to purify water and rebuild schools and roads.
Japan was among the first to back the war that ousted Saddam Hussein. Many Japanese worry that cooperating with U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq could make Japan a more likely target for terrorists.
"Be sensitive to their needs," said Samuels. "This is the first time that the Japanese military has been involved in a conflict since World War II. As you're out and about in Japan, I would attempt to avoid that subject matter."
Service members wishing to fly out of Japanese international airports such as those in Hiroshima or Osaka need to be prepared for longer waits due to the heightened security.
"They do random searches and inspections," Samuels said. "Be early, so if you happen to be caught into one, you don't miss your flight."
(Information from an Associated Press release was used in this story)