Al Qaeda Threats Made Against Aerovironment

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz said Friday that the city is working with local spy drone manufacturer to bolster security after terrorist threats were made against the company.

Aerovironment, the Huntington Drive-based technology firm that and , was recently the subject of threats made by Al Qaeda, Lutz said.

"We were informed that apparently Al Qaeda has made a threat to Aerovironment," Lutz said.

City Manager Scott Ochoa said Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt was informed of the security risks and briefed the City Council on Thursday.

"The PD has been talking with Aerovironment. From what we understand, locations and people were somehow referenced as targets and the homeland security apparatus is in place and monitoring the situation," Ochoa said. "From what they tell us, we know that folks are considering the threats seriously and that's what we're being told and that's really all that we can then say."

Steven Gitlin, a spokesman for the company, declined to comment on the threats Friday.

"When it comes to security, we're not commenting," Gitlin said.

No visible security or police presence could be seen outside the company's headquarters in the 100 block of West Huntington Friday morning, but an Aerovironment logo identifying the building has been removed from the building's exterior. It is unknown if the removal is related to the threats made against the company.

Lutz said the city was working with the company and other federal agencies to increase the security presence at the company over the Fourth of July weekend. None of the city's holiday festivities will be disrupted by the threats, she said.

"All I can tell you is that our [police] department is working with the other agencies to maintain security for Aerovironment and our community," Lutz said.

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A June 23 blog post in Homeland Security Today, a print and online publication that covers national security affairs, said that 11 top executives at Aerovironment have been identified as targets on jihadist websites.

"In addition to the top US military leaders targeted by Al Qaeda sympathizers, 11 top and senior executives of AeroVironment Inc., including CEO Timothy Conver, were identified by the jihadist forums members," the post reads.

The publication identifies Aerovironment as "the largest maker of the tiny drone spy planes that are being used in the Global War on Terrorism."

Aerovironment has an ongoing , a lightweight drone that can be carried as a backpack and launched by hand in war zones. The camera-equipped Raven sends images back to a handheld remote control.

Earlier this year, the company debuted a tiny drone .

Check back later for more on this developing story.