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NYPD on lookout for terrorist takeover of TV outlets (Operation Atlas)
Associated Press
| March 19, 2003
| Tom Hays
Posted on 03/18/2003 11:27:10 PM PST by Timesink
NYPD on lookout for terrorist takeover of TV outlets
By TOM HAYS, Associated Press Writer
March 19, 2003, 1:27 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Police Department has stepped up security outside major television news outlets in Manhattan to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages.
"It's a concern, especially with international television companies," police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Tuesday at a news conference announcing wartime security measures for the city.
Under a sweeping plan called Operation Atlas, police officials will deploy special patrols to guard television stations clustered in midtown Manhattan and elsewhere.
The step was not prompted by a specific threat or intelligence, police said. But counterterrorism experts and broadcast executives have viewed television news studios as potential targets since the Sept. 11 attack.
"It's something we have to think about and plan for," said Sandy Genelius, spokeswoman for CBS News.
An ABC News spokesman, Jeffrey Schneider, said the network "appreciates the efforts of the NYPD to enhance our security."
The 36,500-officer police department, the nation's largest, began formulating Operation Atlas in recent weeks as war with Iraq grew more certain. The operation arose from fears that during a conflict the city could become a target for retaliation by terrorists.
The plan, which could cost more than $5 million a week, is "the most comprehensive terror prevention program our city has implemented," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
Once the war begins, police plan to mobilize hundreds of extra officers to patrol in and around locations considered susceptible to suicide bombers or other attacks _ places of worship, landmarks, tourist attractions, Wall Street, train stations among them. Other officers will staff checkpoints at bridges and tunnels in Manhattan and elsewhere.
The NYPD will pay special attention to ferry boats and subways, where officers have been running drills to converge on train cars and platforms at the first sign of trouble. Those officers will use dogs trained to sniff for explosives.
The department has already deployed heavily armed units known as Hercules teams to visit potential targets such as Times Square to disrupt terrorist reconnaissance. Separate units have been trained to detect and contain biological and chemical hazards.
Bloomberg said the plan would include the resumption of military flight patrols above the city. In a related move Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration put tighter restrictions on airspace in a 30-mile radius around John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Operation Atlas also calls for police commanders in each of the five boroughs to develop plans so they can operate as independent departments if police headquarters in Manhattan were disabled.
The $5 million weekly cost would cover overtime for officers reassigned from their usual details.
Bloomberg said he would be in Washington on Wednesday, meeting with the state's congressional delegation and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. He said that he would bring up issues of cost but that, no matter what, "We will not skimp on protecting the city."
On the Net:
New York Police Department: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/home.html
TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: networknews; newyorkcity; nypd; operationatlas; tvnews
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"Roker! We have you surrounded! Put down the microphone and step away from the doughnuts!"
1
posted on
03/18/2003 11:27:10 PM PST
by
Timesink
To: Timesink
"The New York Police Department has stepped up security outside major television news outlets in Manhattan to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages."Damn, that's an insidious scheme. Why, the terrorists could be holed up in those studios for weeks before we realized what they were doing!
2
posted on
03/18/2003 11:29:31 PM PST
by
Fabozz
To: Timesink
"The New York Police Department has stepped up security outside major television news outlets in Manhattan to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages."
The Cops want to keep the democrats off the air?
3
posted on
03/18/2003 11:30:06 PM PST
by
apeman81
To: Timesink
Please...anyone with half a brain about the technology is NOT going to take over a studio - they're going to hijack an uplink facility and insert their propaganda there.
4
posted on
03/18/2003 11:31:39 PM PST
by
Keith in Iowa
(get the US out of the UN & the UN out of the US)
To: Fabozz
I know what you mean. I was wondering how we would ever know.
5
posted on
03/18/2003 11:32:57 PM PST
by
kayak
(Pray for our President, our troops, and our nation!)
To: Timesink
Question: How would we know the difference between terrorists spouting anti-American propaganda on a hijacked station versus the usual Hollywood types spouting anti-American propaganda on a non-hijacked station?
6
posted on
03/18/2003 11:40:32 PM PST
by
Redcloak
(All work and no FReep makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no FReep make s Jack a dul boy. Allwork an)
To: Timesink
Anyway we could get them to come down to Atlanta and check out CNN? If they can, make sure and bring a lot of men because the bad guys have been entrenched there for years.
7
posted on
03/18/2003 11:44:44 PM PST
by
U S Army EOD
(Served in Korea, Vietnam and still fighting America's enemies on Home Front)
To: Timesink
The New York Police Department has stepped up security outside major television news outlets in Manhattan to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages. The peace nics are already doing this with their protests
8
posted on
03/18/2003 11:46:27 PM PST
by
Mo1
(Patriots Rally for America V: Liberty Weekend in Washington DC Sunday March 23)
To: Timesink
The New York Police Department has stepped up security outside major television news outlets in Manhattan to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages.It's time the news media gets it correct. It's not terrorists. It's Muslim extremists.
To: Fabozz
What does worry me for New Yorkers is hearing the info from Bobby Kennedy Jr. tonight on Indian Point Nuke Facility. He said they are not protected, as the owners of it and our government are all passing the buck on who is responsible for protecting it.
This seems to be the problem basically at all nuke plants, which I personally did not know. They have rent-a-sops who say they will flee at the first sight of terrorists.
Now with Indian Point. 21 million are in the 'zone' for 35 miles and he said, Joe agreed, that NYC would virtually be unihabitable if it was hit. I plan to read more on this and other nuke plants, for the issue of our home security, funds not being released and unprotected plants is unacceptable to me.
10
posted on
03/18/2003 11:47:58 PM PST
by
JustPiper
(Pull out of the UN and drive into Bagdad)
To: kayak
Because the terrorists have threatned to air good programming with quality shows that don't insult the viewer's intelligence. It would finish TV.
11
posted on
03/18/2003 11:49:16 PM PST
by
Hillarys Gate Cult
("Read Hillary's hips. I never had sex with that woman.")
To: Redcloak
There is no difference, in my opinion.
The only thing that would change this situation is if it were a violent takeover, in which people were injured or killed...
12
posted on
03/18/2003 11:52:12 PM PST
by
thunders
(proud fiance of a USMC Reservist, who, thankfully, is at home with me...for now....)
To: Keith in Iowa
I agree with you, Keith, but breaking in and holding a gun to some talking head to get him to read a statement, and killing him and others in the room, on live worldwide TV, would be a lot more dramatic.
13
posted on
03/18/2003 11:52:50 PM PST
by
HitmanLV
To: HitmanNY
Sorry, but the minute there was a breach of security at the studio, they'd pull the plug to the uplink, transmitter, or whatever - and they'd never be seen.
14
posted on
03/18/2003 11:58:44 PM PST
by
Keith in Iowa
(get the US out of the UN & the UN out of the US)
To: Hillarys Gate Cult
LOL!
15
posted on
03/19/2003 12:02:11 AM PST
by
kayak
(Pray for our President, our troops, and our nation!)
To: Fabozz
I'm sure See BS would willingly hand over their facilities to terrorists. No need for terrorists to take them over. They wouldn't even need to put a gun to Blather's head to get him to cooperate. He does that already, and gets paid for it.
16
posted on
03/19/2003 12:05:11 AM PST
by
laz17
(Socialism is the religion of the atheist.)
To: U S Army EOD
to prevent possible takeovers by terrorists who may want to broadcast anti-American messages.If the terrorists took over CNN how would we know?
To: Keith in Iowa
I don't know much about it, I'll take your word for it. I'm just thinking of the drama of it all - Al Queada's style!
18
posted on
03/19/2003 12:38:01 AM PST
by
HitmanLV
To: Timesink
Please! Not Regis and Kelly!
19
posted on
03/19/2003 2:23:52 AM PST
by
Petronski
(I'm not always cranky.)
To: Timesink
On the lookout?
Look no further than ABC World News Tonite.
Petey "I hump war sluts" Jennings is a spokesmouth for Radical Muslim terrorists.
The LEFT-WING ABC has already been compromised, and needs liberation.
Call the FBI, Homeland, and your local pest control officers.
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