City prepares for possible terrorist attacks on landmarks

With Wednesday night's long anticipated commencement of the war on Iraq and the nation's state of heightened alert, Philadelphia has taken on a grim new role -- potential target.

Strategically located between two of the nation's largest cities -- New York and Washington, D.C. -- Philadelphia is in the center of the crucial Northeast Corridor.

Although not widely acknowledged as a major commercial center of business and commerce, Philadelphia is home to several sites of historical significance, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Combined with its role as the fifth largest city in the United States, these factors give some cause for alarm.

"We do have a lot of symbolic sites and a few distinctive skyscrapers," Political Science Professor Jack Nagel said. "Obviously nothing like the World Trade Centers, but still visible targets that would have an impact, especially in a large city with a concentrated population."

One of Philadelphia's most distinctive landmarks also could provide a potential target for disrupting transportation along the East Coast.

"Thirtieth Street Station is the rail center for the Northeast Corridor and thus crucial to that artery," Nagel said.

Other concerns deal with important facilities that lay in the surrounding areas rather than the city itself.

"Eighty percent of U.S. healthcare materials are manufactured 80 or 90 miles outside of Philadelphia," Political Science Professor Stephen Gale said. "A planned attack could theoretically contaminate the healthcare production process."

Gale also expressed concern over a privately-owned facility only 10 miles outside of Philadelphia.

"It acts as a coordinating center for electrical grids, moving electrons around to where they're needed," he said. "It has the potential to blow all the fuses in generating stations all over the U.S. in a domino effect.

"The plans for this building were found in Afghanistan about a year ago," he added. "It wouldn't have serious consequences; no one would die. But it would cause a chain of economic damage."

In order to prepare for the possibility of such threats being carried out, the city of Philadelphia announced extra security measures taken in response to the rise in the terrorism threat level from "yellow" to "orange" on Monday night.

On Wednesday, Mayor John Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson detailed the proactive measures to maintain security within the city. There will be increased police patrols, especially for the Center City areas as well as City Hall.

Also, heightened inspections of bridges, railroad locations and chemical compounds will take place under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Police, with the use of marine and aviation units. The police department will continue cooperation with federal sectors, state police and other local agencies to ensure open communication and the sharing of information.

City officials are encouraging individual police officers, along with the people of Philadelphia, to remain on high alert and investigate all suspicious behavior with the safety of the public as the main goal, according to a spokeswoman from the police department.

Philadelphia Police also acknowledges the rights of all persons to protest for or against the war, but maintains the right to arrest those refusing to cooperate or endangering the safety of others.

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