EvanL
05-06-2004, 04:17 PM
By COLIN FREEZE
UPDATED AT 4:12 PM EDT Thursday, May. 6, 2004
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Concern about global terrorism -- but no known specific threat -- has prompted the Toronto Transit Commission to warn its employees to be on the lookout for suspicious people and packages on the mass-transit system that more than a million riders use daily.
"Since 9/11 and the recent attacks in Moscow and Madrid, there has been an increased focus within the public transit industry on emergency preparedness relative to terrorism," a TTC statement issued this week reads.
"In keeping with this and on the advice of the Toronto Police Service, the TTC is taking what we believe to be prudent and responsible steps."
Everyone, from drivers to janitors to station attendants, is being told to watch out for unauthorized people in restricted areas and for any packages, including ones "intentionally placed in an out-of-the-way location that is not readily visible" or "that have visible wires, batteries, a clock or timer, or . . . bottles, tanks or bags attached."
Officials said that yesterday they have taken the step as a precautionary measure and know of no immediate danger. The transit system is not at a maximum state of alert, say officials who are in ongoing security discussions with Toronto Police.
TTC General Manager Rick Ducharme said that there is no reason for riders to be fearful, and that he will continue using transit just as he does every day. A police spokesman said he is not aware of any credible threat against the city's transit system.
"We talked to police services, as we've done as part of our common effort in dealing with this issue," Mr. Ducharme said. "They indicated we should be moving forward on some aspects of it. So we felt the best move was to just talk to our employees, who are the front-line people out there."
"Hopefully, nothing comes out of it and the public should look upon it as a positive thing," he said. "I mean, we care, and safety is the key issue."
The general manager said the TTC takes advice from police because they are plugged into national and international law-enforcement and intelligence-gathering networks. He added that he has sent a letter to Chief Julian Fantino asking if the system is taking all the precautions it should be.
Mr. Ducharme acknowledged that the TTC has never issued a statement as specific as the one it has just put out. "But what happened, especially after the Madrid incidents, were efforts in place to be more vigilant; . . . there were bags on the trains that became the devices they used but, again, that doesn't mean it's going to happen everywhere."
Mr. Ducharme compared the measure to a spate of recent U.S. warnings over the past couple of years, in which security officials have been told to be alert just in case something may happen.
UPDATED AT 4:12 PM EDT Thursday, May. 6, 2004
Advertisement
Concern about global terrorism -- but no known specific threat -- has prompted the Toronto Transit Commission to warn its employees to be on the lookout for suspicious people and packages on the mass-transit system that more than a million riders use daily.
"Since 9/11 and the recent attacks in Moscow and Madrid, there has been an increased focus within the public transit industry on emergency preparedness relative to terrorism," a TTC statement issued this week reads.
"In keeping with this and on the advice of the Toronto Police Service, the TTC is taking what we believe to be prudent and responsible steps."
Everyone, from drivers to janitors to station attendants, is being told to watch out for unauthorized people in restricted areas and for any packages, including ones "intentionally placed in an out-of-the-way location that is not readily visible" or "that have visible wires, batteries, a clock or timer, or . . . bottles, tanks or bags attached."
Officials said that yesterday they have taken the step as a precautionary measure and know of no immediate danger. The transit system is not at a maximum state of alert, say officials who are in ongoing security discussions with Toronto Police.
TTC General Manager Rick Ducharme said that there is no reason for riders to be fearful, and that he will continue using transit just as he does every day. A police spokesman said he is not aware of any credible threat against the city's transit system.
"We talked to police services, as we've done as part of our common effort in dealing with this issue," Mr. Ducharme said. "They indicated we should be moving forward on some aspects of it. So we felt the best move was to just talk to our employees, who are the front-line people out there."
"Hopefully, nothing comes out of it and the public should look upon it as a positive thing," he said. "I mean, we care, and safety is the key issue."
The general manager said the TTC takes advice from police because they are plugged into national and international law-enforcement and intelligence-gathering networks. He added that he has sent a letter to Chief Julian Fantino asking if the system is taking all the precautions it should be.
Mr. Ducharme acknowledged that the TTC has never issued a statement as specific as the one it has just put out. "But what happened, especially after the Madrid incidents, were efforts in place to be more vigilant; . . . there were bags on the trains that became the devices they used but, again, that doesn't mean it's going to happen everywhere."
Mr. Ducharme compared the measure to a spate of recent U.S. warnings over the past couple of years, in which security officials have been told to be alert just in case something may happen.