Alert mobilizes state, township
Security to increase at state’s airports, trains and ports

BY CHARLES W. KIM

Staff Writer

South Brunswick is taking action in light of this weekend’s raise of the terror alert system.

"The South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the police department are instituting recommended procedures to address this upgrade," Deputy Police Chief Frederick Thompson said in a press release Sunday evening.

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced an increase in the national threat level from an elevated risk (yellow) to a "high risk" of terrorist attacks (orange).

"The U.S. intelligence community has received a substantial increase in the number of threat-related intelligence reports," Ridge said Sunday.

According to Ridge, the current threat is "perhaps greater now than at any point since Sept. 11, 2001."

Ridge also said that raising the level, as in the past, "can help disrupt or deter terrorist attacks."

The level was raised at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March and was lowered by June.

While travelers may notice an increase in security at airports and train stations, most local residents may only see an increase in police patrols.

"There will be increased patrols of locations that we have identified a priority," South Brunswick Police spokesman Jim Ryan said Monday, but added that, "most residents will probably not see much of a difference."

Ryan said the department and the OEM has "contingency plans in place," in case of an emergency locally.

"We are corresponding with federal and state agencies at the local level," Ryan said.

He said most of the preparations to deal with the heightened alert status will be seen internally in the department, and that people should just remain vigilant while the level is increased.

Gov. James E. McGreevey issued a statement Sunday with the state’s Office of Counter-Terrorism Direc­tor Sid Caspersen, outlining the ac­tions that the state is taking to deal with the increased threat.

"In this holiday season, we can­not let terror and fear dictate our lives. New Jersey is doing every­thing possible to ensure the safety of our families," McGreevey said in the statement.

According to the statement, Mc­Greevey has increased security at all the state’s tunnels, bridges, nu­clear power plants, ports, airports and railways by deploying more state police and national guards­men at those locations.

The state will also increase ran­dom inspections of trucks, tankers and hazardous materials vehicles throughout the state’s major high­ways.

The increased patrols on NJ Transit trains will also include K-9 dogs to sniff for explosives.

"Citizens of New Jersey should rest assured that every action is be­ing taken to prevent a terrorist at­tack in our state," Caspersen said in the statement.

McGreevey called on all resi­dents to "remain vigilant," but added that "we must not let our fears disrupt this season of celebra­tion."