The Sunspot Solar Observatory will stay shut down indefinitely. The facility was evacuated more than a week ago because of a security concern, but investigators are not saying what that concern is.

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WEBVTT THIS AND HAS MORE DETAILS. >> IT’S BEEN MORE THAN A WEE AND THE SUNSPOT SOLAR OBSERVATORY IS STILL CLOSED. WE’RE TOLD IT’S CLOSED BECAU OF A SECURITY CONCERN. BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE NOT SAYING WHAT THAT CONCERN ACTUALLY IS. IT’S STILL A MYSTERY AS TO WHY A POPULAR OBSERVATORY HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN BUT THE FBI DID TELL KOAT THE SECURITY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT ALIENS OR UFO’S. THE NATIONAL SOLAR OBSERVATORY FACILITY IN SUNSPOT, NEW MEXICO WAS EVACUATED MORE THAN A WEEK AG YELLOW CRIME TAPE BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE. >> WE WERE TOLD WE HAD A CREDIBLE THREAT THROUGH THE FBI AND TO LEAVE. >> SEAN WILLIAMS AND HIS FAMILY WERE ONE OF FIVE HOUSEHOLDS TOLD TO LEAVE THE AREA. HE SAYS THEY WEREN’T GIVEN A REASON WHY. >> EVERYTHING I OWN IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PIECE OF YELLOW TAPE IN MY HOUSE AND THIS PLACE IS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND I’M HERE NOW I’M JUST WORRIED ABOUT LOOTERS. >> AND NIETHER WERE WE. THE OTERO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THE FBI IS THERE INVESTIGATING. BUT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOT CURRENTLY HELPING WITH THE INVESTIGATION OR SECURITY OF THE OBSERVATORY. THE ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY OR AURA IS SAYING THE SHUTDOWN IS BECAUSE OF A SECURITY CONCERN. WE’VE ASKED THEM AND OUR LOCAL FBI AGENTS WHAT THE SECURITY CONCERN IS AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER. >> PEOPLE GET CRAZY WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ANSWERS, I SUPPOSE. >> WE’VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL NEW MEXICO STATE POLITICIANS. INCLUDING GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ, SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH AND SENATOR TOM UDALL TO GET THEIR TAKE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SUNSPOT BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM EITHER. AURA HAS DECIDED THAT THE SUNSPOT SOLAR OBSERVATORY WILL STAY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THE REST OF THE NSO FACILITIES ARE OPEN AND ARE OPERATING

Advertisement Sunspot Solar Observatory closed indefinitely because of security concerns The Sunspot Solar Observatory will stay shut down indefinitely. The facility was evacuated more than a week ago because of a security concern, but investigators are not saying what that concern is. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

We're learning the Sunspot Solar Observatory will stay shut down indefinitely. The facility was evacuated more than a week ago because of a security concern, but investigators are not saying what that concern is. The FBI told KOAT the security concern is not about aliens or UFO's, but the entrance was blocked off by yellow crime tape."We were told we had a credible threat through the FBI and to leave," said evacuee Sean Williams.He and his family were one of five households told to leave the area. He said they weren't given a reason why."Everything I own is on the other side of this piece of yellow tape in my house and this place is completely empty and I'm here now. I'm just worried about looters," Williams said.KOAT was not given any answers either. The Otero County Sheriff's Office said the FBI is investigating, but the sheriff's office is not currently helping with the investigation or security of the observatory. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy is saying the shutdown is because of a security concern. KOAT has asked AURA and Albuquerque FBI agents what the security concern is and has not gotten an answer."People get crazy when they don't have enough answers I suppose," Williams said.KOAT has also reached out to several New Mexico state politicians, including Gov. Susana Martinez, Sen. Martin Heinrich and Sen. Tom Udall, to get their take on what is happening in Sunspot, but has not received a response from them. AURA has decided that the Sunspot solar observatory will stay closed until further notice. The rest of the NSO facilities are open and operating normally. KOAT has reached out to several New Mexico state legislators in the Otero County area for comment and is waiting to hear back.