D.C. Boosts Security For Holiday Festivities

Officials Increase Patrols, Tighten Parking Rules

Authorities in Washington and other U.S. cities announced increased security measures yesterday to thwart the possibility of a car bomb targeted at Fourth of July celebrations, after three terrorism attempts in London and Glasgow last week.

D.C. police officers announced extra restrictions on parking, urged local companies to report unusual sales of propane and said they are even enlisting parking enforcement workers to report cars that appear to be sagging or emitting an acrid odor.

U.S. Homeland Security and local law enforcement officials said there is no credible intelligence of a threat on U.S. soil. But they said similarities between the London bombing attempts and past foiled plots targeting nightclubs and other "soft" targets in the United States and Britain had prompted a greater sense of urgency -- especially with hundreds of thousands of people expected to jam downtown Washington today for the traditional July 4 parade, concert and fireworks.

"The situation in London and Glasgow is very concerning," said Kip Hawley, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, which is providing special teams to Washington and other cities this week to patrol airports, train stations and subways.

"You always have to wonder and be concerned about copycats or if there might be other folks in the planning stages," Hawley said.

Major U.S. cities are taking unusual precautions. New York has intensified the use of vehicle checkpoints and expanded police patrols at Herald, Union and Times squares and in the theater and financial districts.

Los Angeles has increased security around large nightclubs, financial institutions and several high-rise buildings as well as airports and ports, officials said.

Hundreds of D.C. police, U.S. Park Police, Capitol Police and other emergency responders will be on duty for today's festivities at the Capitol and on the Mall. As with most major events in the District since the 2001 terrorist attacks, authorities have worked for months on extensive security plans. But officials have intensified their efforts in the past week, after the U.K. car-bombing attempts.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said officers will be extra-vigilant to ensure people don't stop their cars on bridges or downtown streets to gawk at the fireworks.

"We are going to be very diligent to keep vehicles moving," she said. Parking restrictions will be further tightened, she said.

City police are urging all personnel -- including ticket-writers -- to be on the alert for vehicles with suspicious characteristics, such as protruding wires, a bitter odor or an unusual sag. Police also are enlisting employees at the Department of Public Works to watch for such oddities.

"The more eyes we've got on the street, the better," said Cmdr. Patrick Burke of the D.C. police department's Homeland Security and Special Operations Division.