WASHINGTON (AP) - The FBI's Washington field office has created a squad dedicated to investigating intellectual property thefts.

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Trent Teyema, assistant special agent in charge of the office's cyber branch, says the squad was created this month as part of a broader law enforcement focus on cybercrime.

The squad will also investigate economic and industrial espionage and theft of trade secrets.

He says the threat is growing based on the sheer number of companies that have an online and multinational presence. He says Washington is a logical setting for the squad since the Department of Justice is based here.

Federal authorities have been increasingly warning of the threat posed by hackers and cyber attacks. On Thursday, for instance, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the cyber threat from Iran had grown.