Suitcase incidents
Riverside Co, Calif http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_News_Local_shome18.a11cf.html
Georgia
http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1974822&nav=0qq6OGDO
One 'something' we would see: chaos
IN THE SUBWAYS
Jul 8, 2004
One 'something' we would see: chaos
Jun 24, 2004
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a message for anxious riders. "If you see something, say something."
This valuable advice comes at a time when investigations of suspicious packages on New York trains account for hundreds of delays every month.
There are potential suitcase bombs and knapsack bombs and lunch-bag bombs and shoe-box bombs that can be stashed in a heap of trash under a seat.
Now, any unattended briefcase, any empty cardboard box, any duffel bag left mistakenly on a train by a harried commuter - all of them should be treated as potential terrorist bombs.
If you see something, say something.
Every time, train service in the vicinity of the suspicious package grinds to a halt. Stations are evacuated. The nerves of riders and transit workers are frayed. The bomb squad and K-9 units respond.
"What do you do if there is a bomb in a train?" asked George Haikalis, president of the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility. "I've never heard of any training for that. I've heard people say, 'If you see an unattended bag, notify authorities.' But then what happens?"
You might expect reports of suspicious packages on trains to increase in the weeks leading up to the Republican National Convention, which will be at Madison Square Garden from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. The U.S. Open tennis championship in Flushing also begins on Aug. 30, making New York City an even more tempting target for pranksters and terrorists.
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I didn't save the Staten Island incident or the NY subway and Penn Station from about two months ago. Not to mention all the others. So if anyone had any reservations about these being probes, go ahead and add all the suspicious incidents together. It's obvious they're testing.
I don't know if this was posted.............
Suspicious package closes subway station
BY JOSHUA ROBIN AND CURTIS L. TAYLOR
Staff Writers
June 23, 2004
Several Brooklyn subway stations were closed during yesterday's morning rush as police investigated one of four suspicious packages found in the city.
There appeared to be no connection between the incidents or any indications would-be terrorists planted the bags to gauge police reaction, said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly
"I think now there is a lot more awareness and sensitivity to the issue," Kelly said near the Staten Island Ferry.
Police closed the Brooklyn subway stations after a 911 operator received a call at 9:21 a.m. of an unattended bag at the Long Island Rail Road main waiting room at the Atlantic Avenue terminal.
Bomb Squad detectives determined that the bag was accidentally left behind, police officials said. Normal subway service resumed at 10:39 a.m.
Subways initially passed the station without stopping. But 50 minutes later, police redirected six train lines to avoid Downtown Brooklyn entirely, said James Anyansi, a spokesman for NYC Transit.
LIRR service was suspended between Jamaica and Atlantic Avenue from 9:20 a.m. to 10:49 a.m., said spokesman Brian Dolan. Seven trains were affected — four westbound and three eastbound.
The incident came several hours after police closed the Flushing/ Main Street station on the No. 7 line after authorities were alerted to white powder on at least two train cars at 1:30 a.m., police said.
Officers from the Emergency Services and Hazardous Materials unit were dispatched to the scene. The powder was determined to be harmless and the station reopened at 3:20 a.m.
Police responded to two other incidents overnight and today — both of which turned out to be false alarms, officials said.
"There is no indication they were similar or that there was any pattern of people putting down their suitcases," Kelly said.
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