FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	AG

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1998                                                                                                                        (202) 616-2777

                                                                                                                                                                             TDD (202) 514-1888




JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, FBI AND ATF ANNOUNCE TASK FORCE


TO INVESTIGATE SERIES OF BOMBINGS IN SOUTHEAST





	WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies will pool their resources into one region-wide
investigation of a series of Southeastern bombings over the past
two years, announced Attorney General Janet Reno, FBI Director
Louis Freeh and ATF Director John Magaw.   




	The Southeast Bombing Task Force will include the FBI, ATF,
Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Police Department,
Georgia Bureau of Investigation, N.C. State Bureau of
Investigation.  Some state and local law enforcement officers
will be specially deputized to carry out certain task force
operations.




	The Task Force, which will have three primary operational
locations in Birmingham, Atlanta and the Western District of
North Carolina will provide evidence to a team of federal
prosecutors from Birmingham and Atlanta, with support from the
Western District of North Carolina.




	The Task Force builds on the Atlanta Bomb Task Force and the
task force that has been in Birmingham since the January 29
bombing of the Birmingham Women's Clinic.  Law enforcement
agencies will consult and coordinate through the former Atlanta
Task Force's command structure.




	Federal officials also expressed their gratitude to state
and local law enforcement for their cooperation.




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