Marines investigate Islamic State leaflets found at Quantico base, with possible links to Mexico

(Marine Corps Times) Officials have launched an investigation into leaflets found near Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., which “may or may not be associated with the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State,” base spokesman Maj. Andrew J. Bormann told Marine Corps Times on Friday.

Quantico is a major Marine Corps installation that includes several important units and commands, such as Training and Education Command, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, better known as HMX-1, which transports President Obama in Marine One and tests experimental aircraft. The base is also close to the FBI Academy.

A government employee came upon seven leaflets on Wednesday afternoon while running through the town of Quantico, Bormann told Marine Corps Times. The leaflets have a reversed image of the Islamic State group’s flag and writing in Arabic that is translated as “We are here from Mexico and came by train,” Bormann said in an email.

“Security personnel from the base informed the town of Quantico, the FBI and NCIS,” Bormann said. “While these leaflets may be a hoax, base officials are taking their discovery seriously.”

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading an investigation to determine if the leaflets are authentic, he said. The leaflets have not been found at any other Marine Corps installations.

The base has not taken any extra security precautions due to the discovery of the leaflets, but the Marine Corps issued an administrative message on Wednesday night telling Marines to report “even the most minor suspicious activity.”

“Every Marine is our first line of defense and we emphasize to them that if they see something, say something,” Bormann said. “Our Eagle Eyes program is a program to enable just that.”