Federal agents riding trains around the United States are using hand-held sensors to detect radiological or biological materials that might be used in an attack on a major metropolitan area, the New York Post reported today (see GSN, Oct. 6).
In collaboration with the FBI, the Homeland Security Department has been discreetly equipping Transportation Security Administration officers with the compact sensors. The agents are then dispersed at random to patrol the nation's rail system, including Amtrak passenger trains, and bus network, giving special attention to transportation centers.
"The nuclear, biological, chemical issue is now the most concerning and feared because of its mass-casualty possibilities," said a high-level federal official with knowledge of the program.
"This expands our capabilities to detect weapons of mass destruction, and it shows the direction we are heading nationally," the source added.
The detectors are used to search out traces of biological and radiological materials secreted in luggage and bags. Similar technology is used by the New York Police Department for monitoring of the city's bridges, subways, tunnels and streets (Murray Weiss, New York Post, Nov. 16).