Metro is looking to establish a new FBI bomb detection and detonation project, just eight days after federal prosecutors charged a Northern Virginia man with aiding a plot to blow up Metro stations.
The agency plans to use $351,000 from a Department of Homeland Security grant to fund training in and equipment for the FBI’s National Electronic Countermeasures Program. Metro’s Finance and Administration Committee is scheduled to vote on establishing and funding the program Thursday.
Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said Metro had planned on establishing the program with the FBI “way before” last week’s bomb plot was revealed. She added Metro also has other training programs already established with the bureau.
Electronic countermeasure equipment uses electromagnetic radiation, such as radar, to reduce the effectiveness of enemy equipment — namely remote-controlled bombs.
The new program would train Metro’s accredited regional bomb squads to jam radio signals to prevent remote detonation. Metro was chosen to pilot the scrambling device for the Washington region.
Bob Chase, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, called security on Metro a “huge” challenge.
“You’ve got a system that serves hundreds of thousands of people a day, and the challenge is serving that magnitude while still trying to make the system convenient,” he said.
Last Wednesday’s arrest of Farooque Ahmed, a 34-year-old from Ashburn, was part of an FBI sting operation. Prosecutors say he planned to use rolling suitcases filled with explosives, but it is not clear how he planned to detonate the bombs.
Remote detonation devices have become more sophisticated in recent years as cell phone technology has been incorporated. Most recently, U.S. officials said two makeshift bombs found last week in U.S.-bound packages in England and Dubai were wired to explode, at least one via a cell phone detonator.
If approved, Metro’s program would purchase equipment by the end of next year and training would be complete by June 2012. Metro would be eligible for more funding later that year.
The funding comes from DHS’ Urban Area Security Initiative grant program, which focuses on enhancing regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas.
