After London Attacks, Romney Elevates Public Transit Security Level
By Amy Lambiaso and James O’Sullivan for the State House News Service
       Gov. Mitt Romney ordered a heightened state of security on the state’s public transit system and at Logan International Airport Thursday morning following terrorist attacks on London’s underground subway system.
       Romney said he has received no information from the FBI about significant threats in Boston or neighboring areas, but is taking precautions in the event that a “coordinated” or “copycat” attack takes place. Bombs exploded in London’s Tube system and on buses around 8:50 am London time.
        “There has been no intelligence suggesting we are in danger,” Romney told reporters. The governor added: “It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if there were going to be a copycat or coordinated activity in this country, that our subway system could potentially be threatened.”
       Romney said if he received "credible" information that would put residents here in danger he would "absolutely" make that information public. "It would depend upon the nature of the information and the credibility of it, but if we received a significant credible threat, and we needed to warn people to avoid a setting of danger, we would certainly do so," he said. "We receive information on a regular basis of potential threats that we respond to based upon the credibility of the information we receive."
       Romney skipped a planned press conference in East Boston to instead brief reporters here, just hours after the bombings. Romney said eight Massachusetts cities - including Boston - have added security personnel to their MBTA stations and asked riders to be more alert in looking for suspicious people or packages. He declined to name the cities.
       The MBTA and Massport are operating on a Code Orange-type alert, Romney said, based on the recommendation from FBI officials. Romney said participated in a conference call with US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at 9 am and was told five cities on the East Coast should be on a heightened alert – Boston, New York City, Miami, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.
       Romney said the White House was not clear about why those cities were highlighted, but said it was his impression that it was due to their heavily used subway systems. Later in the day, Romney said US homeland security officials were urging all public transit systems to raise their security levels.
       Romney said he spoke with MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas at 6:15 am, after learning about the terrorist attacks on television, and instructed him to deploy more security personnel to reflect the heightened security level. Security officials have been instructed to inspect people or packages if they have a “reasonable level of suspicion,” Romney said. “Inspections or searches will occur where there is a reasonable level of suspicion and clearly given the recent attacks in London, they will be at a very heightened state of alert,” Romney said.
       At a later press conference Thursday afternoon, Romney said he met with staff from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s office around noon to discuss coordinate security efforts, and said he has spoken with Department of Homeland Security officials periodically throughout the day.
       “We continue to update our plans,” Romney said. “They’re making certain recommendations to us which we plan to implement fully. But there’s no significant change in our security programs or plans from those which I announced this morning.”
       In addition, several storage areas in MBTA stations have been “locked down” and many are using only one entrance to allow for security officials to properly monitor the stations. Track inspections have been increased. Roughly 25 State Police have been deployed to assist the MBTA police as well, Romney said.
       “As with existing issues and problems that may arise . . . law enforcement always has that option to ask for an inspection,” Grabauskas said.
       Romney said all MBTA trains have been running well, aside from an unrelated incident this morning - Grabauskas said two Green Line trains derailed in Boston, causing problems and backups. Grabauskas said he has been in contact with the regional transit authorities today as well, and directed them to have a heightened alert at all 8,400 bus stops across the state. He said announcements reminding passengers not to leave bags behind and urging people to “say something if they see something” are playing more frequently.
       “It’s a little bit of a needle in a haystack,” Grabauskas said. “But there have been no specific threats and we are doing everything we can.”
       The London bombings didn’t rattle Liliana Yepes, who took the Blue Line from East Boston downtown to report for her job as a waitress at the Paramount Restaurant on Charles Street. Yepes, a Colombian immigrant, shook her head, laughed, and said she wasn’t concerned for her safety. “What I was really worried about was whether I was going to be late for work,” said Yepes, snacking on potato chips outside East Boston’s Maverick Station later.
       The temporary and unrelated Green Line shutdown did postpone a shopping trip for new shoes, forcing Yepes to walk from Arlington Station to Government Center to board the T back to East Boston.
       Marcos Benedico said he didn’t hear about the London attacks until overhearing two other passengers discussing them on his way back to Maverick. Asked if he would have any hesitation about riding the subway for the rest of the day, Benedico replied, “Are you kidding? I’m not riding for the rest of the week. If they can do it in London, they can do it here.” Inside Maverick, a recording of Romney’s voice urged T riders, “now more than ever,” to remain vigilant.
       “If you see something, say something,” Romney’s voice intoned over the loudspeaker, encouraging riders who spotted suspicious activity to call the T’s Transit Watch at 617-222-1212. Outside Government Center Station before noon, a pair of Boston Police cruisers sat on the plaza, while two Boston officers and two State Police patrolmen stood nearby.