DHS Raises Terror Alert Level; Police Increase Security Across Washington Rail, Bus System
By Daniela Deane and Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, July 7, 2005
5:12 PM
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security raised the terror threat level to code orange for public transit systems around the country following multiple explosions on London's transportation system early today, but left the national threat level unchanged, U.S. Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff said.
Chertoff said the threat level was raised from "elevated" to "high" for regional and inter-city passenger rail, subways and metropolitan bus systems.
"We are not suggesting that people avoid public transportation systems," he said. "Rather we are asking that they use the systems but with an increased awareness of their surroundings."
Chertoff said that U.S. authorities had "no specific credible evidence" pointing to an attack in the United States, but he said officials were "concerned about the possibility of a copycat attack."
"I think our transit systems are safe," Chertoff said at Washington news conference. He said there have been vast improvements since terrorists struck the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. But he said the department was still "asking for increased vigilance" in the mass transit system.
D.C. police moved quickly to a higher alert level for the morning rush hour in Washington, dispatching officers armed with machine guns and bomb-sniffing dogs to patrol subway and bus stations in the nation's capital and activating the city's network of surveillance cameras .
New York police reinforced security on the city's transit system and Amtrak increased security on the country's passenger railroad system. Several other cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, also announced stepped-up security measures in their metropolitan areas.
In Washington, D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey said patrols were increased at foreign embassies, especially those of nations participating in the G-8 summit or part of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
At an afternoon news briefing, D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) urged people to remain vigilant but to go ahead with their daily activities.
"Our city is open and safe," Williams said.
In an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) said the state had increased police protection in northern Virginia and around critical facilities such as bridges and tunnels.
Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) told a morning news conference that the state has increased security at its airports, bridges, tunnels, roadways and around the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways.
The Washington Nationals halted their afternoon game against the New York Mets at RFK Stadium to offer a moment of silence for the victims of the attacks. The sellout crowd rose to its feet, and players stood in the field, caps over their hearts.
Outside the British Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue NW, visitors brought flowers, offered prayers and lined up to sign a condolence book. One man held a placard that read, "Today, we are all British," Reuters reported.
Morning commuters on Washington's transportation network were greeted by the increased police presence and sporadic reports of suspicious packages, which briefly disrupted traffic and transit operations.
Metro officials closed the Medical Center station on the Red Line for about an hour Thursday morning after a "suspicious package was found in a station bathroom," according to Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith. Pete Piringer, a spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, said the package was later determined to be "a box of electrical components found in an employee bathroom."
An Orange Line train was held at Metro Center for a security check while an officer wearing black combat boots and a camouflage green jumpsuit walked slowly from car to car, his eyes scanning crevices while his hand rested on the trigger of his gun.
"It's necessary," said commuter Jim Roby of Waldorf after the armed officer passed him. "We're a target just like London."
U.S. Capitol Police shut down the traffic circle in front of Union Station after two U.S. Park Service employees reported seeing a battered brown suitcase abandoned at a Metrobus stop.
Four police vehicles swooped onto the scene, red, white and blue lights flashing, to redirect traffic away from the Metrobus stop while the suitcase was examined by officers from the department's hazardous materials unit.
The suitcase was deemed harmless and the circle later reopened.
"Whenever we have events like this, when people leave stuff laying around, passengers tend to become more vigilant and call us about it," said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Piringer.
Metro spokesman Lisa Farbstein said Metro restrooms will be closed today and that sweeps of rail yards and bus garages are being conducted. Farbstein told commuters to be on the look-out for any suspicious packages or activities.
Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson said Metro will deploy three-officer "sweep teams" on Metrobuses and trains throughout the day. One member of each team will have a bomb-sniffing dog, she said, while another will carry a "long gun" and the third will have his hands free. She said some cars and buses will be stopped and searched by dogs.
Gary McLhinney, chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, who patrols BWI Airport, the MARC commuter trains and the tunnels on Interstate 95, said bomb-sniffing dogs and officers armed with assault rifles were sweeping trains and the airport. Other officers were riding trains and monitoring commuters on platforms, he said.
Police chief Ramsey said Washington commuters will see more D.C. police officers at Metro stations and some of those officers will be armed with machine guns. Extra bomb technicians are also on duty and other specialized units have been activated, Ramsey said.
Ramsey said police officers were held over from the last shift to increase manpower in Washington today. He said a joint operations command has been set up and officers from surrounding jurisdictions have also been called in to help.
At the U.S. Capitol, police announced that they had begun inspections of all large vehicles, such as buses and tour mobiles, and would continue the inspections during morning and afternoon rush hours.
In New York, police "redirected forces to the transit system, put greater attention to other sensitive locations, and thousands of additional police are working," police spokeswoman Dora Kalbouros said.
Amtrak also increased security. Officials with the passenger railroad said they had increased police staffing on board all trains, at stations and along rail lines. They have also brought in canine units.
Heightened security was to continue until investigators have a better understanding of what happened in London, Amtrak said.
If Washington riders detect anything out of the ordinary on Metro, they should call 202-962-2121. To report any other suspicious activity in D.C., call 202-727-9099.
Washington Post Staff Writers Steven Ginsberg, Theola S. Labbe, David Snyder, Marc Fisher, Spencer Hsu, Mary Beth Sheridan, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Michael Alison Chandler, Eric M. Weiss and Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.