US counterterrorist official says US, Russia tracking ‘number of specific threats’ at Sochi

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An armed Russian security guard stands at the ski resort Rosa Khutor, where the snow and sliding sports venues for the 2014 Winter Olympics are located, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

WASHINGTON – A top U.S. counterterrorist official says there are “a number of specific threats” aimed at this week’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia — with the greatest danger coming from the Caucasus Emirate, which has threatened to attack the games.

Matthew Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, is telling Congress Tuesday that the U.S. and Russia are tracking threats of “varying degrees” of credibility. He said potential attacks seem more likely outside the venues for the games, and instead in the area or region around Sochi.

He described intelligence sharing with Russia as “good.”

FBI Director James Comey said U.S. co-operation with the Russian Security Service has improved.

Russia has mounted a massive security operation for the Olympics, deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers amid threats from Muslim insurgents.

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