Thursday, July 20, 2006

Metro Beefs Up Security to Prevent Terrorist Attack

by MC3 Heather Weaver
Journal staff writer

Metro is increasing security measures to protect riders and prevent terrorists from crippling Washington's rail system. The effort comes in the wake of a subway attack in Kashmir, India, that killed more than 200 people and left hundreds more injured. The security increase also comes only a few weeks after the one-year anniversary of the London subway bombings.
"[The additional security] is something we started last year after London and we are going to pick it up now," said Steven Taubenkibel, a Metro spokesman. "We will pick different stations each week ... to do targeted [and] random searches to ensure the infrastructure is what it's supposed to be and nothing out of the ordinary is found."
In response to last year's London attacks, Metro increased station, tunnel and train inspections, installed explosive-containment trash cans and increased the presence of uniformed and plainclothes officers, Taubenkibel said.

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