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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 ...
Not being reported on any cable channels I have surfed.
Well, lets see if there is an update:
http://www.kusa.com
Ok, here it is:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4672273,00.html
"American Airlines plane makes emergency landing at DIA"
By Associated Press
May 3, 2006
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The plane landed safely before 10:30 p.m., Snyder said. It was met with emergency vehicles, but there were no injuries.
Synder said the aircraft would be inspected to see if there were any problems with the nose gear or the warning light.
A message left for an American Airlines spokesman by The Associated Press was not immediately returned."
Here's an additional link for the mass transit alert:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1617489/posts?page=1207#1207
And I think this is the second emergency landing in a couple of days.
I do think that there is some serious threat and potential attack.
Note the advisories and the several tapes by the various AQ -- AQ's MOD is to warn in tapes, then attack.
But I rather have a number of false alarms, than to miss a real attack.
That's kind of you bd476 and you're welcome.
Allllriiiiighty then....(wink, wink)
Weird.
Actually there were two reports of American take off problems This makes three. Maybe these guys are taking the alert very seriously. The better safe than sorry.......
And then there's this. But it was just a harmless little prank. /sarcasm
KCBS 2
Pellets Fired At Metrolink Train Cause Delay
May 3, 2006 7:28 pm US/Pacific
(CBS) CHATSWORTH Pellets were fired at a northbound Metrolink train north of Chatsworth Wednesday, frightening some passengers, but only causing a brief delay, authorities said.
The shots were fired at Train 113, which had left Union Station at 4:25 and was due to arrive in Ventura at 6:10 p.m., according to Denise Tyrrell of Metrolink.
None of the double-paneled windows were broken, but one pellet penetrated an outer panel, Tyrrell said.
The train arrived in Ventura shortly after its scheduled time and crews were sent to repair the window, Tyrrell said.
The shooting occurred when the train was north of Chatsworth, south of the tunnel linking the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley, she said. Emphasis added.
It is suspected that pranksters had fired the pellets, Tyrrell said. Earlier in the afternoon, someone threw a paintball at another Metrolink train.
"This was more of a nuisance than anything else," Tyrrell said. "It's pretty hard to hurt the train."
The conductor was slightly upset, because at first he thought someone was shooting at him, Tyrrell said.
"The conductor is usually standing and is the person most likely to be seen from outside," Tyrrell said.
Pellets Fired At Metrolink Train Cause Delay
These guys are nervous. Blown tires, a bulb burning out, kids throwing things at trains would normally be taken in stride. We have to be careful because if we start jumping at shadows the enemy wins without doing anything. At the same time we have to be cautious and ready. A difficult situation.
Pellet guns are no big deal unless you are standing up in the train and can't tell if it's a pellet or a bullet.
Some people take kids throwing stuff at cars pretty badly. There was a kid shot and killed for tossing an egg at a car as it passed by in Indiana last year. The driver went home, loaded his gun and went back for revenge. A teenage boy playing a prank lost his life over that one.
Ping
My Mom once worked on the prosecution of some teenagers who threw a water balloon off an overpass. It killed a driver.
PING! Thought you might be interested in this.
Cindie
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