http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/kouri/2005/03/security-experts-warn-of-terrori st.html
Jim Kouri is Vice President of the National Association of Chiefs of Police Saturday, March 05, 2005 Security Experts Warn of Terrorist Attacks on Rail System by Jim Kouri, CPP The recent discovery of sketches and data of New York City's Grand Central Station on a disk in the home of suspected terrorist Mouhannad Almallah in Spain brought renewed interest in US railway vulnerabilty and security measures. Grand Central Station is one of the largest railway centers in the world, with hundreds of thousands of commuters passing through each week. Two leading experts in railroad security recently warned a rail industry conference of the prospect of future domestic terrorist attacks directed at both passenger and freight railroads. It was also pointed out that significant security vulnerabilities, coupled with funding shortfalls for infrastructure enhancements, combine to make the rail industry a potential target of transnational terrorist groups. Kim E. Petersen and John P. Hart, both executives with US-based RailSecure, a firm specializing in passenger and freight rail security and counter-terrorism consulting, were speaking before the Rail Industry Safety Conference, jointly hosted by the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.Their presentation described how hundreds of terror attacks have been leveled against the rail industry. There have been over 181 attacks on trains and related rail targets worldwide between 1998 and 2003, in such countries as Colombia, India, Spain, Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela. The most recent major attack was directed against commuter trains in Spain on March 11, 2004 by persons with ties to al-Qa'ida. In this most recent incident, more than 190 persons were killed by 10 bombs placed on four separate trains. US authorities have warned that they have unconfirmed intelligence that terrorists operating in the United States have shown an interest in passenger rail operations, as well as freight trains carrying hazardous materials. During a discussion of past terror incidents, Petersen pointed out that attacks against railroads are more numerous and deadly than those on airports and airplanes. Trains have seen deliberate derailments, attacks by gunfire, hostage taking, bombings, and even an attack with a weapon of mass destruction: the use of Sarin gas - a chemical warfare agent - by members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult in their attack against the Tokyo subway which killed 11 and injured over 5,500 people. Petersen concluded his remarks by making several recommendations designed to mitigate some of the known risks. It was suggested that railroad operators repair or replace dilapidated fencing around rail facilities; install security lighting around facilities and critical infrastructure; replace garbage cans at passenger rails stations with blast-resistant, transparent trash containers to prevent their being used for concealing IEDs (improvised explosive devices); install closed-circuit television systems to monitor facilities, tunnels, and bridges; install signage to increase awareness about unattended packages, evacuation procedures, and restricted areas; train railroad staff to identify suspicious behavior, as well as packages or luggage, and improve emergency response actions; and, educate passengers on the need for their vigilance in spotting suspicious persons or items that could represent a threat to public safety." In an industry that prides itself on its passenger and employee safety record, significant work is now underway to address emerging threats from terrorism and crime," said Hart in closing. Transnational terrorists have already demonstrated a preparedness to attack commuter, passenger, freight, and intermodal train operations. It is therefore essential that each component of our rail industry complete threat and vulnerability assessments, and begin the process of creating a strong security infrastructure that will provide deterrence to terrorist attacks. At the same time, the federal government must do a better job of allocating counterterrorism resources to the rail industry. Each day trains carry ten times more passengers than commercial airlines do, yet the rail industry has received only one percent of the security grant monies awarded to the aviation industry. In light of the tragic events of Madrid, quite clearly some changes in priorities are in order. Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! 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