It wasn't even two weeks ago that a note came in to our offices about how a variety of companies that you probably know well -- Marconi and VisioWave (a part of GE Security) -- had been tapped to enhance security in London Underground's tubes. It was a neat news story that day. It had all the right elements: a city that was at the time right in the front running for the Olympics, cutting-edge networked video and communications systems; and the security of a mass transit system that was first built back in the 1860s. We wrote up a quick story, sent a note to some of the key players, letting them know that we wanted to follow up with something more detailed, and then went on with our lives, not thinking much more about London's subway system...
...At least until yesterday morning, when, with the rest of the world, we learned that terrorists had attacked London's transit system on the morning of the G-8 summit, and just one day after the city was announced to be the host of the 2012 Olympics.
For today's column, I will refrain from the usual wrap-up about new legislation, manufacturer news and the standard incident stories, and instead will allow you to focus on this tragedy that has left more than 50 dead and hundreds injured. The list below represents what we may consider as SIW's must-read list to give you perspective about security in relation to the London attacks and the security response around the world:
- Securing and Networking London Underground's Mass Transit System
- APTA President Urges Increased Transit Security Funding
- After the Bombings, the Grueling Task of Reviewing CCTV Footage
- DHS Requests Vigilance at U.S. Transit Systems
- Learning from Israel on How to Secure Buses
- Shares of Homeland Security and Biometric Companies Jump
- Tightening Down Transit in Atlanta
- President Bush's Comments on London Explosions
- No Sure Protection for Vulnerable Transit Systems?
- London Blasts Fuels Spending Fight for Transit Security
- Free Webinar: Suicide Terror, An Overview of the Threat, via Officer.com
From SecurityInfoWatch.com, and on behalf of all our affiliated security directors, systems designers, integrators and installers, and all who believe in making our world a safer place, we extend our deepest sympathies and respect to Londoners and the families of the injured and deceased.
When all the news filters out, I'm reminded of a quote from President Bush, given yesterday as he faced the news of London's attacks:
"On the one hand, we've got people here who are working to alleviate poverty and to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS and that are working on ways to have a clean environment. And on the other hand, you've got people killing innocent people. And the contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill, those who've got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks."
The good fight was never guaranteed to be an easy fight. Keep up the vigilance at the facilities and operations you secure.
