Transit Terror Takedown
Combat tactics for securing the billions of daily rail passengers against terror!
The daily volume of passengers transported by worldwide rail, including international trains, commuter trains, light rail systems, and underground trains makes them prime terrorist targets. Passenger trains in Russia, India, and Spain have been targeted in recent years, as have been underground systems in Moscow, Tokyo, New York, and London. In Japan, passenger trains carry more than 22 billion passengers each year, while those in China and India carry staggering numbers as well. For these countries, rail is a crucial transport mode where private vehicles are relatively few. In Europe, the British rail system carries over 1.2 billion each year and the German system transports 2.2 billion each year. Subway systems are particularly vulnerable. The Hong Kong underground system carries 7 million passengers daily, as does the Moscow Metro. The New York subway system transports 4.5 million every day, similar in numbers to the Paris Metro. London’s Underground moves an estimated 3.4 million a day.
The combination of thousands of miles of unsecured track and the large concentration of passengers on mass transit trains makes them very appealing terrorist targets. The Tokyo subway was targeted for chemical and biological attack, while other trains and subways have been the targets of bombers. Both of these threats are best countered by constant surveillance and prevention. The potential for hostage taking aboard a train requires careful planning and intensive training to enable a tactical unit to have a high probability of success in carrying out a rescue.
Be the first to comment!
Leave a Reply