The U.S. Coast Guard, working under a higher terror alert, has extended a 500-yard security zone to ferries such as the private MV Coho and Victoria Express, and Washington State Ferries.

The zone, which was already in effect around military ships and oil tankers in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, was extended to ferries and other passenger vessels more than 100 feet long last weekend, Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Sam Teague said Wednesday from 13th District headquarters in Seattle.

The federal government raised the alert level to Orange — the second highest — last Friday as Muslim holy days approached and surveillance indicated the possibility of a terrorist attack to coincide with the holidays.

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