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Few people know Charlotte and al-Qaida better than former FBI agent Chris Swecker.
"We have targets here," Swecker said. "Of course we do."
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Swecker was talking about Charlotte's big banks, the Panthers' stadium and the two nuclear plants to the north and south of uptown.
As the man who ran Charlotte's FBI office for five years before going to the Middle East to lead the agency's intelligence operations in the Iraq war zone, Swecker said al-Qaida's latest threats of reprisals should be taken seriously by the city of Charlotte, especially with Democrats and the president bringing their convention to the city next year.
"I think it raises the symbolism of the event," Swecker said. "Large gatherings of people, it's a political event, there's going to be venues all over the city -- and these folks have long memories."
Officially, the FBI wasn't commenting on al-Qaida's threats on Friday. The new man running the Charlotte office said this week, though, there's already action being taken.
"If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready," said Chris Briese, FBI special agent in charge. "So if you don't see anybody ‘ramp up,' it's because it is what we do."
Police in Charlotte wouldn't give specifics but said they, too, are ready.
"Since last week, we have taken steps to heighten awareness of activity and increase our awareness of certain locations," said Deputy Chief Harold Medlock.
Swecker said the latest threats raise the stakes for Charlotte.
"Without a doubt, it ups the ante," he said. "I don't think there's any question about that."
Swecker said there's no reason for Charlotteans to panic, but said the reality is that Charlotte has been a potential target for years and will continue to be.