Fort Hood Promotes Anti-Terrorism Awareness Month - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

What would you do if you saw something suspicious?

Well August is Anti-Terrorism Awareness Month, and Fort Hood and local police say they're counting on you to report it to them.

It saved lives in the recent Naser Abdo case.

He's the AWOL Fort Campbell soldier who tried to blow up a Killeen restaurant full of soldiers last July.

But he never got a chance to go through with it, thanks to watchful citizens, and that made all the difference to a couple who says they were targets of his attack.

The usual lunch hour rush is business as usual for Hensan Timo at C&W Hawaiian Grill in Killeen.

But he'll never forget the day the FBI came in and told him would-be terrorist Naser Abdo had been there to scout out his restaurant, a place frequented by Fort Hood soldiers.

"It's scary just to even think about. We try not to think about it, because we just try to act normal, but at the same token, in the back of your mind, you're always looking for any suspicion," said Hensan.

His wife Cora thinks of what might have been if a gun shop owner hadn't called police after Abdo came in to buy large amounts of gun powder, or if an Army Surplus worker hadn't noticed him buying a 1st Cavalry Division uniform he seemed to know nothing about.

Cora said, "I can imagine, there would be a lot of lives lost on this day, because we didn't even expect it ourselves."

And looking out for each other is exactly what the Army's iWatch program is all about.

A new PSA for the program said, "The Army has chosen this time before the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks to increase awareness."

It's basically a neighborhood watch program for the military, and the idea is simple: See something, say something, just like in the Abdo case.

Fort Hood iWatch Program Manager Carla Stamper said, "Someone in town saw something they thought was suspicious, they reported it, next thing you know, the police officers were able to stop something bad from happening."

If they hadn't, there's no telling whether Hensan and Cora would be alive today.

"It makes you feel secure, it makes you feel good that every body is aware, because now days, there are so many crazy things, shootings going on all over the country, so you can never really drop your guard, you always have to be on the lookout," said Hensan.

When Abdo was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month, Killeen police warned local business to be wary of other possible attempts.

Since then, they've been educating restaurants, hotels and car rental agencies about terrorism.

There are seven signs.

Look out for someone video taping or photographing activities, trying to learn about military operations, testing security, or collecting supplies.

Also look out for someone who looks out of place or seems to be practicing an attack.

The last and most dangerous phase is getting supplies ready.

If you see something suspicious, call 288-COPS, or dial 911 in an emergency.

Learn more here.

Reporter/Photographer: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com