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U.S. Mass Transit on Alert

May 03, 2006 9:29 AM

ABC News has learned that the Department of Homeland Security has alerted U.S. mass transit officials to "suspicious videotaping" of European rail systems that point to a continuing terrorist interest in targeting mass transit and "possible surveillance or pre-operational planning."

According to a short unclassified infrastructure security "private sector note" released Tuesday, May 2nd, DHS says a 17 minute hand held videotape by one foreign national detained in November in a major European city included footage of several stations, two routes and the interior of one "subway car." None of the footage was of tourist attractions. Information from a second suspicious videotaping, also in November 2005, was factored into the one page private sector note.

"Two incidents of suspicious videotaping of a European mass transit system in the last 120 days provide indications of continued terrorist interest in mass transit systems as targets, and potentially useful insight into terrorist surveillance techniques," DHS said.

The contents of the 17 minute tape that appeared suspicious included the recording of station signs from inside a moving train, shooting footage of the rail car and station platform ceilings and recording trash can and stairwell locations. This footage seems to mesh with known techniques and elements of prior casing reports of planned and executed terrorist plots including the London bombing and plots against the New York City subway system.

The Department of Homeland Security stresses that there is no specific or credible threat information at this time to suggest an an attack on U.S. rail systems, a spokesman said.

May 3, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (110)

User Comments

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I KNOW EVIL IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY,BUT I SOMETIME THINK THE NEWS IS A LOT OF DISINFORMATION,ITS GETTING TO THE POINT I DONT EVEN WATCH THE EVENING NEWS ANYMORE,ITS ALL A BUNCH OF LIES,BY AND FROM A BUNCH OF LYING WONDERS.!!!!

JOHANN DOHMANN

Posted by: JOHANN DOHMANN | May 3, 2006 11:43:16 AM

Maybe we should surrender now - maybe if we show them we mean them no harm they'll leave us alone! That worked after the first WTC attack didn't it?

Posted by: WJC | May 3, 2006 11:47:23 AM

Why get upset and why bother to even put up alerts!!!!
Jorge has open borders, represents
Mexico and allows illegals, including OTM's to "visit" us every day.
After awhile, one must get used to the idea that we will be blown to h--- under the mismanagement of Jorge Bush.
Eleven Iraqis have been cought at the Texas/Mexican border. How many more are here and have put in place wmd's or other shoe bombs, etc.
Are we really safe----what a joke. Jorge and his unethical crew have no credibility left!
I say this, as a woman, who voted for incompetant Jorge twice. Just think about what I could say as a Democrat!

Shirley Beckman

Posted by: Shirley Beckman | May 3, 2006 11:58:27 AM

Video-ing station signs? Rail car and station platform ceilings? Trash can and stairwell locations?

One must wonder on what pretext this squeaky-clean character was released, poor dear. No doubt Old Europe has its own societal-suicide activists vamping as civil-liberties lawyers.

Posted by: Tom Bright | May 3, 2006 12:11:22 PM

If they discovered this in November 2005, why are they just now releasing the information?

Seems pretty irresponsible . . .

Posted by: xebtron | May 3, 2006 12:13:01 PM

This is amazing. I live in Atlanta and take MARTA (our subway) to work. Last fall, I observed a middle eastern man videotaping the North Springs MARTA station which is in midtown. I contacted the Atlanta Police, who advised it was not their jurisdiction and the MARTA Police (who are worthless). At a later date, I even contacted Homeland Security's local office. No one was interested in this information and no investigation was done. When are people going to wake up to the fact that this country is in danger from terrorists. I believe people have already forgotten 9/11.

Posted by: Maggie Osborne | May 3, 2006 12:17:46 PM

NO, Duh!

I was on a bus in Manhattan almost two years ago and I saw a middle aged middle eastern man video taping the bus while it was stuck in traffic. This went on for ten minutes. I told the bus driver and the lazy bum was like "so what". I gave him my business card and begged him to tell his superiors, and that they should call me if there were questions. I'm still waiting for a call.

Posted by: JDGrove | May 3, 2006 12:23:59 PM

funny how this comes up as gas prices soar. WE ARE NOT THAT STUPID.

Posted by: bill | May 3, 2006 12:45:15 PM

Why does this article not mention which European city mass transportation system was on the video? I am in Italy and would really like to know!

Posted by: Kelly | May 3, 2006 12:46:22 PM

I think the gov't is overreacting. Let's secure our borders first, doing our best to keep out the terrorists, so that innocent tourists from Biloxi don't get tackled in Los Angeles subway terminals or bus depots for taking vacation pictures!

Posted by: Amelia | May 3, 2006 1:03:18 PM

BUt I'm sure that Brian Ross, citizen of the world with allegiance to no country, will see nothing of note here......

Posted by: dancing bears | May 3, 2006 1:03:30 PM

Everyone should check out Robert Spencer's JihadWatch.org Bottomline..Radical Islam actually believes they are going to create a world order based on the Koran.

Posted by: Daniel von Ulsterberg | May 3, 2006 1:24:41 PM

elections are in the offing, i.e. bird flu and terrorist threats.

Posted by: Irene Solnik | May 3, 2006 1:28:15 PM

We have no way of getting out of a subway platform if their is a danger in the system.I know, because I get off at fulton street stop on the IRT train #4 downtown in nyc everyday.It is one of the hardest places to get out. Please take a survey and find out how many other platforms have this problem. Then maybe they might fix the conjestion in the subway system.I know it will make me feel much safer If i could get out
a little quicker.Thanks for listening hey Richard, I think this is a good one for you...

Posted by: Paul | May 3, 2006 2:33:20 PM

Don't worry, the Feds continue to protect us and our highly vulnerable mass transit ifrastructure by installing cameras.... we'll have pictures of the evildoers after the next attack, while we are counting up those killed and injured.

Perhaps one day... some day, we'll get serious about profiling those who fit the bill as likely terrorist enemies and, simulatenously, take the fight to them outside the continental United States (CONUS).

Nah, instead we'll do what is easy and politically correct... damn the consequences. Come to think of it, just like we were pre- 9/11.

Posted by: Ted | May 3, 2006 2:44:20 PM

Sounds like it's time for another inside job. WAKE UP YOU PEOPLE!!

Posted by: Jimmy | May 3, 2006 2:50:33 PM

Here is a good place to research US Railroad Data:
http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/Default.asp

I worked (as a systems vendor)with Emergency Management Officials (State and Local)for many years, and I have gained an appreciation for what I believe is a greatly overlooked exposure we have regarding terrorism: Hazardous Materials traveling via our railways.

If you go to the url I have suggested, section 1.05 offers the ability to query accident data by railroad,state or region (or all) by date range.

In 2005 there were 3,136 Total Train accidents.

The "Number of train accidents that resulted in a release of hazardous materials" was stated at 36 or 1.15% of the total.

The "Number of persons evacuated" stated at 7,636.

The "Number of rail cars releasing hazmat" was stated at 49.

So, it's fine to look at mass transit, what is being done to mitigate threats to trains carrying hazmat? Have you ever heard of the "Dow Death Train" that runs from Louisiana to Michigan? That is a term offered up by Emergency Management Officials along that route!

Food for thought.

David Hale

Posted by: David Hale | May 3, 2006 2:54:22 PM

Next time you see some guy video taping an area walk up and ask him what he is doing. Call the police, or take a picture of him with your cell phone camera.

Posted by: John | May 3, 2006 2:55:11 PM

Take this seriously. Change your route, keep
your eyes open for suspicious characters doing things out of the ordinary. A tourist will take videos, but not standing there for ten minutes with the same subject.
Rather than attempt local yokals who don't care about anything other than their paycheck, call in to FBI all suspicious activity. That is what they are there for.
Look for subway systems stations with longer platforms or different lines with less crowding, hard in NYC or Atlanta or San Fran, but try. Just think safety and think where would a terrorist get most effect and avoid those places at all possible.
When you think about it, we really are soldiers also and the first line of defence for our nation as we can be watchfull and report to DHS, TSA or FBI activity that is suspicious. Be alert!

Posted by: Rob | May 3, 2006 2:57:26 PM

12,000,000 illegal aliens here? I wonder if at least1 hates Americans?

Posted by: Bob | May 3, 2006 2:59:10 PM

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