MBTA, TSA Check Bags For Explosives
MBTA Tests Terror Drills In Braintree
POSTED: 5:16 am EDT April 24,
2008
UPDATED: 12:23 pm EDT April 24,
2008
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BRAINTREE, Mass. -- The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority conducted drills on Thursday to ensure the safety of its passengers.NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that commuters at the Braintree Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stop were greeted by MBTA police. Officials randomly selected people to have their bags inspected by federal Transportation Security Administration workers.
VIDEO: MBTA Conducts Bag SearchesThe bag is swapped with a piece of cloth, and the cloth is then entered into a high-tech portable detection unit.The drills are designed see how well the MBTA is equipped to deal with a security surge if there is a threat."It reads outside of bag, and if there is an explosive it will tell us what it is," said MBTA Deputy Chief John Martino said.MBTA police already do random bag searches, but this drill is to prepare in case the Department of Homeland Security raises the threat level to orange."We've formulated a plan with the TSA to conduct more inspections, so we can cover more inspections when the alert level goes up," Martino said.Anyone who refuses a bag check could be escorted off the property or arrested.
VIDEO: MBTA Conducts Bag SearchesThe bag is swapped with a piece of cloth, and the cloth is then entered into a high-tech portable detection unit.The drills are designed see how well the MBTA is equipped to deal with a security surge if there is a threat."It reads outside of bag, and if there is an explosive it will tell us what it is," said MBTA Deputy Chief John Martino said.MBTA police already do random bag searches, but this drill is to prepare in case the Department of Homeland Security raises the threat level to orange."We've formulated a plan with the TSA to conduct more inspections, so we can cover more inspections when the alert level goes up," Martino said.Anyone who refuses a bag check could be escorted off the property or arrested. Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
