Tight security in New York, plotter may be in US

By Chris Michaud

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Yorkers went about their business under tightened security on Sunday, the day federal officials said the subway system might be attacked, as investigators sought a possible plotter in the United States.

Ridership on the subway was running at about normal levels for a holiday weekend. Columbus Day, a federal holiday, will be celebrated on Monday.

Throughout the city, stepped-up security measures that began on Thursday continued, with armed troops in fatigues patrolling transit hubs including Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal and the Port Authority bus station.

Asked on "Fox News Sunday" whether a suspected plotter had made it into the country, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, "That's certainly part of the investigation, yes."

Members of the city's elite Atlas anti-terrorism unit rode the subways bringing thousands of fans to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx where the baseball team faced possible playoff elimination.

"There's more cops watching," said Brian Beseira one of the expected 55,000 fans at game. "I think about it but I try not to worry. There's more cops, more alert, in case something does happen. You feel a little safer."

"We're going to come to Yankee Stadium," said another fan, Gary Holz. "This is what it's all about, the playoffs and the Yanks. You can't stop us from coming together and congregating."

Uniformed police officers were in evidence at even smaller subway stations in neighborhoods outside Manhattan, occasionally stopping riders to check backpacks or packages.

Police officials said that reports of suspicious packages had more than doubled in the past few days, with more than 200 such calls since Friday. No dangerous items have been found.

HIGH SECURITY CONTINUES MONDAY

Kelly said New York would remain on heightened alert until U.S. intelligence authorities in Iraq could pin down the credibility of the current threat. Beefed-up subway security would be in force again on Monday, Kelly told CNN, and the situation would be monitored "on an hourly basis."

Carol Charest, who was visiting from Massachusetts with several family members, said they were initially hesitant about riding the subway but ended up doing just that, "and it was fine." She said the visible police presence was reassuring.
Kelly and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have differed with federal officials over the credibility of the threat, which was based on an uncorroborated claim to Iraqi authorities that prompted raids by American and Iraqi forces and resulted in two suspects being taken into custody in Iraq.

A third was being sought, and the New York Times reported that he had been detained, also in Iraq.

The federal bulletin noted that authorities "have doubts about the credibility of the threat" but passed it along "to provide increased awareness out of an abundance of caution."

Bloomberg said he had become increasingly convinced over the last few days that the threat was real and that he preferred to err on the side of caution.

"If you waited to make sure all of your information was accurate, you'd only find out after the event had taken place," he told WNBC television on Sunday. The mayor, who is facing re-election next month, continued over the weekend to urge New Yorkers and visitors to "go about our business."

One subway rider who gave his name as Billy took Bloomberg's message to heart, saying he was unconcerned. "I'm more worried about the Yankees," he said.
10/09/05 18:41