Airports to Test New Defenses Against Terrorist Infiltration

The Transportation Security Administration is launching new measures at selected airports in the country aimed at thwarting terrorists who might use uniforms or identification stolen from airline or airport employees to carry out attacks.

Airports in Newark and Miami are among the largest of eight in the country where a pilot program using biometric technology to control access to secure areas will begin in the coming weeks. In most instances, employees will be able to pass through gates or use elevators to secure sections of airports only if their fingerprints or an eye scan matches information on a special biometrical ID card.

Other airports involved in the pilot program, which will be announced this week, are in Minneapolis-St. Paul; Boise, Idaho; Savannah, Ga.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Tampa; and Providence, R.I., according to TSA documents.

The Homeland Security Department has warned airport authorities about thieves stealing uniforms and ID cards from airline and airport workers.

In a confidential April 8 bulletin, "Potential Terrorist Use of Official Identification Uniforms or Vehicles Update," the agency told federal, state and local agencies that "attempts to acquire official identification, uniforms or vehicles to facilitate attacks or smuggle personnel or weapons would be consistent with the tactics and techniques of [al Qaeda] and other extremist groups."

"Terrorists overseas have disguised vehicles and used emergency, police and other official vehicles in carrying out bombing attacks," the bulletin said. "They have also, in at least one case, disguised themselves as law enforcement officers to carry out an attack."

Homeland Security officials would not comment on the confidential bulletin except to say they have no evidence that the uniforms and credentials have been stolen by terrorist groups.

"But we want to remind security officials to secure all official uniforms and identification cards," said agency spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

A first confidential warning about stolen uniforms and credentials was sent by Homeland Security officials to federal, state and local authorities in July -- a week after burglars took uniforms, keys and identification from the New York apartment of two Delta Air Lines flight attendants. That warning said that the TSA "continues to receive reports" about such thefts and that "recent reporting also suggests a possible trend in the thefts of uniforms, vehicles and other items used by police, firefighters and emergency response personnel."

In the more recent bulletin, the agency advised aviation officials to keep comprehensive records of official identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms and license plates. They should also document any anomalies and cancel access for items that are lost or stolen, Homeland Security officials said.

Stolen uniforms, identification and vehicles have been used in recent terrorist attacks in other countries.

In November, al Qaeda members disguised themselves as police officers to attack an upscale residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Seventeen people died. In October, Iraqi insurgent groups used an ambulance to penetrate the Baghdad office of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ambulance exploded, and 10 people died.

TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said the pilot program is expected to expand to other airports.

John Mazor, spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing 67,000 commercial pilots, said the program represents a long-awaited effort to make airports more secure -- one that pilots hope will become mandatory at all airports.

"Identification cards using these technologies are virtually foolproof," Mazor said. "It's one of those ideas that you wonder why they didn't do years ago."