From Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department asked authorities in major cities today for heightened vigilance of transportation systems after a series of explosions on London transit systems.
President Bush, in Scotland for a meeting of the Group of Eight leaders, conferred in a secure video conference with national security and homeland security officials in Washington.
"I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here in London," Bush told reporters from a summit of world leaders here. Bush said he urged caution "as our folks start heading to work."
In the nation's capital and several major cities, local authorities heightened security in transit systems. But Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said there were no immediate plans to raise the nation's threat level.
"We do not have any intelligence indicating this type of attack is planned in the United States," Roehrkasse said.
The Homeland Security Department asked authorities in major cities for "continued vigilance" of their transportation systems, Roehrkasse said.
U.S. officials were trying to determine, meanwhile, whether an al-Qaida cell's claim of responsibility for the attacks was credible. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity because the situation was still unfolding said analysts were sifting through recent intelligence for any evidence of follow-up attacks here or abroad.
A senior U.S. counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity said that because the attacks were well-coordinated and appeared fairly sophisticated, they were consistent with al-Qaida's methodology.
Recent intelligence indicated that London was considered a prime target for Islamic extremists, in part because al-Qaida was having difficulty getting people into the United States, the official said..."
Excerpt. Story follows: U.S. Transit Officials Urged to Be Vigilant
Wow! That was a fast response to my request for an update. Thank you very much. :-)
Heightened security. No specific threats.
At Union Station there is heightened security, bomb squad, bomb sniffing dogs.
The heightened security alert is escalated to Orange Alert for wheeled transportation, nothing specific for LAX yet.
There will be added security on all public transportation beginning today. Mayor Villaraigosa plans to ride the Metro today. There will be uniformed police officers riding the buses today.
The Mayor said "Public transportation in Southern California is safe.
We have not received any intelligence to indicate that there are any threats to L.A."
However. . . Sheriff Baca said "Current intelligence feedback to Los Angeles and USA is that British security was not forewarned."
You will see uniformed Sheriff’s Deputies riding on each train, in fact Mayor Villaraigosa will be riding the train.
Again, there is no credible threat.
Specific threat level orange raised overnight which means that they hold over police in case they are needed:
If you see anything specifically unusual, please be sure to report it to the police.