Alexandria, Va. –– Transportation officials called for continued vigilance after federal authorities say a Virginia man planned to bomb several Metro stations next year.
Farooque Ahmed, 34, of Ashburn, was arrested Wednesday after investigators said he was working with suspected members of al-Qaeda in planning multiple bombings at Metro stations.
Ahmed was indicted in an Alexandria federal court yesterday on charges of attempting to provide material to support a designated terrorist organization, collecting information to assist in planning a terrorist attack on a transit facility, and with attempting to provide material to support to help carry out multiple bombings to cause mass casualties on the Metro system, according to federal officials.
Farooque remained under federal surveillance between April and Oct. 25, and was unable to carry out any of the alleged planned attacks.
Officials at the transit agency said at no time was any passenger at risk of being attacked by Farooque.
They also asked in a press release that the public stay alert when riding the trains and buses:
To prevent actions from occurring, the Metro Transit Police Department has an ongoing security program, which includes random, unpredictable patrols of Metrobuses, trains, stations and facilities. Earlier this year, the MTPD launched Blue TIDE as a new initiative aimed at deterring terrorist activity in the Metro system. Blue TIDE—Terrorism Identification and Deterrence Effort—includes a large number of MTPD officers who team with law enforcement officers from other agencies to conduct major, high-visibility, anti-terrorism show of force at stations. Metro also participates in Operation Rail Safe, a multi-force, multi-agency security surge throughout the Northeast Corridor. During Operation Rail Safe, officers are deployed for heightened station patrols, increased security presence on board trains, explosives detection canine sweeps and random inspections at unannounced locations.
Audio announcements can regularly be heard, and signs can be seen in Metro stations, asking passengers to report suspicious activity in Metro.
Anyone who sees something suspicious on the rail system is encouraged to call Metro police at 202-962-2121.
