After a series of explosions rocked the airport and a metro station in Brussels on Tuesday, killing at least 30 and wounding scores of others, city and transit agencies across the U.S. beefed up patrols, taking similar measures to those in the wake of the Paris terror attacks last fall.
“At this time, there is no known indication that the attack has any nexus to New York City. We will continue to follow the situation in Belgium closely with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI and adjust the department’s deployments accordingly,” police spokesman Stephen P. Davis said in a statement.
The United States Department of Homeland Security did not heighten its federal threat level, but advised the public to report suspicious activity. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said in a statement that “additional security” would be deployed at major city airports and rail and transit stations across the country.
DHS will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people. #Brussels
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 22, 2016
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) directed state officials to step up patrols at heavily traveled locations around the state, including bridges, tunnels, airports and mass transit systems, he said.
“Public safety is paramount, and I want the people of this state to know that we are working with all local and federal partners, remaining vigilant and taking all necessary measures to keep New Yorkers safe,” he said in a statement.
At JFK International Airport, New York National Guard forces were providing additional security detail. The Guard deployed 400 service members across the New York City area Tuesday, Cuomo said. They focused increased patrols on transportation hubs such as JFK and LaGuardia Airports. In addition, New York State Troopers were monitoring Penn Station and Grand Central Station as well as the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stepped up its police presence at airports, bridges, tunnels and the World Trade Center complex, Cuomo said. And the Metropolitan Transit Auhtority was upping patrols across the system.
In Washington, Metro Transit Police advised passengers to remain vigilant. The agency said it would conduct additional K9 sweeps and patrols across the system Tuesday morning as a precaution, but that no “known, specific or credible threat” existed. Alexandria Deputy Police Chief Shahram Fard said in a Tweet that Alexandria Police patrol officers were assisting Metro Transit Police in monitoring Metro parking lots, and it was expected that agencies across the region would aid in the security effort.
Internationally, the attacks led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights — mostly in and out of Brussels Airport — which closed Tuesday. Brussels Airlines had cancelled 203 flights by Tuesday afternoon, according to the Flight tracking website flightaware.com.
On U.S. airlines, the site said, flights with Brussels on their itinerary were canceled. They included: A United Airlines flight bound for Dulles International Airport that was scheduled to leave Brussels at 7:10 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, along with three other United flights; six Delta Airlines flights and two American Airlines flights — one bound for Philadelphia and another departing from there for the Belgian capital.
American Airlines spokesman Kent Powell said the airline has made accommodations for passengers with reservations to Brussels, and arrangements would be made for those who remain in Belgium. Flights to and from Brussels were canceled through Thursday, he said. American’s next flight to Brussels is scheduled to depart Philadelphia on Friday evening, while its next flight from Brussels back to the U.S. is scheduled to leave the Belgian capital at 9:40 Saturday morning.
“American Airlines is taking care of our employees and customers in Brussels after this morning’s events. At this time, there are no reported injuries to our employees. American Airlines check-in operates at Row 8 of the departure hall, and the explosions did not occur at Row 8,” Powell said. “American Airlines flight 751 from Brussels to Philadelphia has been canceled for today. When operations at the Brussels airport resume, we will reaccommodate our customers. We have issued a travel policy for customers with reservations to Brussels who wish to change their itineraries.”
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority did not outline specific steps that were being taken at the region’s two major airports, Dulles International and Reagan National airports, but a statement reinforced the airports’ commitment to passenger safety. The statement encouraged passengers to stay vigilant and report any unusual activity.
“Reagan National and Dulles International airports have a robust security structure, both publicly visible and behind the scenes,” the statement read. “We constantly train our employees and evaluate our security procedures, in collaboration with our federal partners and local mutual aid partners, to make adjustments, updates and enhancements based on new information and situations.”
Officials at Baltimore Washington International Airport said they were “working closely” with federal and state law enforcement agencies after the Brussels attacks, but that no specific threat existed.
Maryland officials said Tuesday that travelers should expect to see more police and canine explosive detection patrols throughout the state’s transportation network.
“In the wake of the horrific attacks today in Belgium, we are taking every precaution to keep Maryland citizens safe and secure,” Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement. “In particular, there will be a more visible law enforcement presence at the airport, train stations and other mass transit locations around the state. I encourage all Marylanders, especially those traveling, to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times. If you see something unusual or unsettling, please report it immediately.”
Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn said two pre-established law enforcement plans for the MTA Police and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police would be implemented.
“In addition to the increased enforcement you do see, there are many measures in place that travelers won’t see,” Rahn said. “Please be aware of your surroundings and remember: ‘If you see something, say something.’ ”
In Chicago, extra officers and canine units were dispatched to the airports and Chicago Transit Authority stations stations as a precaution, the Chicago Tribune reported. A police spokesman told the paper that the interim police superintendent has ordered “stepped-up presence at airports and transportation sites within Chicago.”
In Los Angeles, the county sheriff’s transit police swept Union Station, the downtown train station, and heightened security at other transit hubs, according to the Los Angeles Times. Security would be increased at several of the city’s major metro stations, a spokesman told the paper.
At Los Angeles International Airport, officers would be making their presence known more than usual, an airport police officer told the paper.
And in San Francisco, there would be an increased uniform police presence at “key locations” across the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, said spokeswoman Alicia Trost. The system was also sending out a “See Something, Say Something” memo to passengers through its safety and security app BART Watch.
Lori Aratani and Ashley Halsey III contributed to this post.