Security increased in Washington and New York
The national threat alert in the United States remained unchanged early this morning but transport security was stepped up as rush hour got underway in Washington and New York.
Sniffer dogs and armed police officers were sent to patrol subways and buses in the nation’s capital.
“Special attention is being paid to transport systems in the DC area,” a Washington police spokesman said.
New York police officers on duty overnight were all refused leave this morning to keep security levels high across the city.
“Thousands of uniformed officers have been assigned to mass transportations,” an NYPD spokeswoman said.
“There will be high visibility at all subway stations and on buses and there could be spot inspections and passengers are urged to report suspicious activity.”
New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ordered that the heightened visibility be kept up throughout the morning rush hour and into the evening.
Police in both Washington and New York said there was no indication of any specific threat.
The Homeland Security Department asked authorities in major cities across the US for heightened vigilance on transport systems.
But a spokesman said there were no immediate plans to raise the nation’s threat level from yellow to orange.
“We do not have any intelligence indicating this type of attack is planned in the United States,” he said.
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