Posted on 05/03/2006 9:29:49 PM PDT by bd476
WASHINGTON — U.S. mass transit systems should remain alert against possible terror attacks, the Homeland Security Department said in a new warning that highlighted suspicious activity at unnamed European subway stations last fall.
Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said Wednesday there is no specific or credible intelligence to indicate U.S. transit systems are being targeted, and he described the notice, sent Tuesday, as a routine reminder for transit authority operators, state security advisers and police to remain on guard.
In Chicago, transit authority spokeswoman Sheila Gregory said the nation's second largest transit system had not received any information or warning from Homeland Security regarding suspicious activity at European subway stations.
Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Boston area transit authority, said the agency is already on alert.
"We have received the memo and we are continuing to operate under the procedures we have in place for the elevated threat level," he said.
The notice said a foreign man was arrested in November in an unnamed European city after videotaping the interior and exterior of several subway cars and stations, including trash cans and stairwells. The man taped nearly 17 minutes of subway pictures, the notice said, but "the camera contained no footage of tourist sites."
Three other people were later arrested for similar activity, including two in the last four months, the notice said.
The incidents "prove indications of continued terrorist interest in mass transit systems as targets, and potentially useful insights of the terrorists' surveillance techniques," said the notice, a copy of which was read to The Associated Press.
It added: "DHS has no credible or specific intelligence regarding active plots targeting U.S. mass transit systems."
Knocke said Homeland Security has no immediate plans to raise the nation's terror threat alert level.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Another it's ok/it's not ok, alert.
All Headline News
Mass Transit Systems Warned To Stay On Alert For Possible Attacks
May 4, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Homeland Security Department warns mass transit systems in the U.S. to stay alert against possible terror attacks.
Homeland Security spokesman, Russ Knocke, tells The Associated Press there is no specific or credible threat against the systems. He says the notice is a routine reminder to transit authorities.
The alert says a foreign man was arrested in Europe last year after he videotaped the interior and exterior of subway cars and stations. He recorded almost 17 minutes of video, but "the camera contained no footage of tourists sites."
The notice says three more people were arrested for similar actions.
It says the suspects' actions "prove indications of continued terrorist interest in mass transit systems as targets, and potentially useful insights of the terrorists' surveillance techniques."
Chicago's transit authority spokeswoman, Sheila Gregory, says they have not gotten any warning from Homeland Security about suspicious activity at European subway stations.
Boston’s transit authority spokesman Joe Pesaturo says the agency is already on alert. He says, "We have received the memo and we are continuing to operate under the procedures we have in place for the elevated threat level."
Homeland Security Issues Mass Transit Alert
For those of us around here before 9/11 we all knew it was not if but when.
"in a new warning that highlighted suspicious activity at unnamed European subway stations last fall. "
===
There must be something else going on and they are just using that as an excuse. No way would they issue an alert in MAY 2006, over some "suspicious activity" LAST FALL, as in over six months ago.
Recently the TSA also issued an alert about private planes.
As I said, I think there must be more going on and fresh intelligence, they just don't want to be specific, so as not to let the terrorists know exactly what we know and how we know it.
Industry News > TSA Advisory: Business Jets Could be Targeted
April 13, 2006
http://www.naa.aero/html/news/shwIndustryNews.cfm?newsid=213&cmsid=100
According to the Transportation Safety Administration, on April 13, a message posted in Arabic on a web forum explained how to identify private American jets and urged Muslims to destroy all such aircraft:
"Destroy private American aircraft…We call upon all Muslims to follow and identify private civilian American aircrafts in all airports of the world…It is the duty of Muslims to destroy all types of private American aircrafts that are of the types Gulf Stream and Lear Jet and all small jet aircraft usually used by distinguished (people) and businessmen."
The message also advised readers how to identify American aircraft and provided the tail number of a private aircraft allegedly used by the CIA.
TSA reminds general aviation aircraft and airport owners and operators to review the security measures contained in the TSA Information Publication, Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s materials Airport Watch Program materials. In addition, general aviation aircraft and airport owners and operators are encouraged to consider the following:
--Secure unattended aircraft to prevent unauthorized use.
--Verify the identification of crew and passengers prior to departure.
--Verify that baggage and cargo are known to the persons on board.
--Where identification systems are in place, encourage employees to wear proper identification and challenge persons not wearing proper identification.
--Direct increased vigilance to unknown pilots and/or clients for aircraft rental or charters, as well as unknown service/delivery personnel.
--Be alert/aware of and report persons masquerading as pilots, security personnel, emergency medical technicians, or other personnel using uniforms and/or vehicles as methods to gain access to aviation facilities or aircraft.
--Be alert/aware of and report aircraft with unusual or unauthorized modifications.
--Be alert/aware of and report persons loitering in the vicinity of aircraft or air operations areas as well as persons loading unusual or unauthorized payload onto aircraft.
--Be alert/aware of and report persons who appear to be under stress or the control of other persons.
--Be alert/aware of and report persons whose identification appears altered or inconsistent.
The theft of any General Aviation aircraft should be immediately reported to the appropriate authorities and the TSA General Aviation Hotline at 866-GASECUR (866-427-3287). In addition, persons should report any suspicious activity immediately to local law enforcement and the TSA General Aviation Hotline.
I was here. I saw our media reporting, that we shouldn't assume it was terrorist related as the 2nd plane flew in.
KUTV 2 CBS Salt Lake City
May 3, 2006 3:32 pm US/Mountain
New Terror Alert Issued To U.S. Transit Systems
(KUTV / AP) WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security issued a new warning to mass transit systems in the United States on Wednesday, to be alert against possible terror attacks.
Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said there is no specific or credible intelligence to indicate U.S. transit systems are being targeted, but he described the warning as a reminder for transit authority operators, state security advisers and police to remain on guard.
The notice pointed out separate incidents which happened in Europe last fall, and described a foreign man who was arrested after videotaping the interior and exterior of several subway cars and stations, including trash cans and stairwells.
The man taped nearly 17 minutes of subway pictures, the notice said, but "the camera contained no footage of tourist sites."
Three other people were later arrested for similar activity, the notice said.
The new warning said the incidents "prove indications of continued terrorist interest in mass transit systems as targets, and potentially useful insights of the terrorists' surveillance techniques."
Knocke said Homeland Security has no immediate plans to raise the nation's terror threat alert level. It was not immediately clear why the arrests six months ago would prompt the new notice. (Emphasis added.)
However, Knocke said it was not connected to Wednesday's sentencing verdict of al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, who was sentenced to life in prison.
A spokeswoman for the American Public Transportation Association, which represents the nation's subway, rail and bus systems, did not have an immediate comment.
U.S. mass transit systems were put on high alert for 36 days last summer after London's deadly July 7 bombings on three subway trains and a bus. Those attacks killed 52 people and the four bombers.
New Terror Alert Issued To U.S. Transit Systems
Probably just Amish tourists.
Per ED HILL , FNC, "it seems a small two engine plane has crashed into the WTC".
/sarcasm off
I hope that you are wrong.
Oh Lord.
Well again, considering that it's KCAL and there's nothing yet on the wires about this, and considering that ...
Well we just don't know much anymore.
It landed?
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