[Stingray2004]

After reading this article from today's North Shore Outlook newspaper and understanding human nature, I would expect to see some drop off of Seabus ridership levels over the next little while.

Terrorists on Canadian soil have “scoped out” the SeaBus as a possible “soft target” in advance of the 2010 Olympics and TransLink may not be prepared for the potential threat, according to internal City of North Vancouver memos.

The police and national security folks know that the bad guys have scoped out both the SeaBus and BC Ferries as possible targets,” Fearnley wrote to then TransLink board member Mayor Richard Walton last March. “Can you imagine a fully loaded SeaBus during rush hour as a target? Very scary. My information is that (TransLink) don’t really have a workable plan for dealing with this sort of situation.”

In an interview last week Fearnley was tightlipped about the information that led to his inquiries and whether he was satisfied with the responses he received from TransLink and in personal meetings with police and VPA officials.

On his source’s identity, Fearnley would only say that the man had sought him out and he had verified with another “official” that the source’s information was reliable.

[Translink spokesman Ken Hardie] acknowledged that Fearnley’s statement that terrorists have “scoped” the SeaBus is likely accurate.

Hardie did not refute a report of a major two-week counter-terrorism exercise involving a SeaBus last June.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/SeaBus_a_target_for_terrorists_memo.html

[AKA-007]

o great. now i don't want to use the seabus. That article just killed ridership for sure.

[mr.x]

ugh....

According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service there are about 50 terrorist groups operating in Canada. Chances of an attack jumped after Canada was placed on a target list by al-Qaida in November 2002, along with the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Australia. Expert security consultants such as Scott Newark, of National Security Group, say mass transit is the favoured target by terrorists, especially as airport security has been increased post 9-11.

In a previous note to stakeholders, including TransLink, North Vancouver RCMP, the Vancouver Port Authority and the Vancouver Police Department, Fearnley wrote: “A week ago a chap who has been involved in maritime security issues for a number of years ... told me that the Port of Vancouver and in particular the SeaBus operated by TransLink is not properly prepared for a number of different emergency scenarios and in particular potential terrorist threats ... leading up to the Olympics these would seem to be soft targets ... a well planned bombing of a SeaBus ... would be a huge potential loss of life, equivalent to the downing of an airliner.”

And it's true....at capacity, the SeaBus carries up to 400 passengers.

[SFUVancouver]

Breaking news:

BAD THINGS COULD HAPPEN SOMEWHERE AT SOME TIME... MAYBE!


This also just in:

Between now and 2010 you are more likely to die in a car accident, of a communicable disease, a freak windmill mishap, or an all-you-can-eat restaurant gorging than in a terrorist attack.

[vanman]

^No doubt. I hope Canadians don't start buying in to this American style fear mongering.It's like the media is slowly trying to elevate our perception of real terrorist threats. Anything or place could be a potential terrorist target. Get over it and move on with your life.

[deasine]

^I agree.

I don't think we should be too concerned with regards to safety and security. Vancouver, luckly, still has a lower risk of even many Canadian cities like Toronto (you may remember last year's planned attack on the CSIS building) and Montreal, and other international cities. If they olympics were to occur in USA however, that would be of major concern.

According to GVTAPS (Transit Police), there will be more than 235 police hired in the next three years to better secure our transit system. There will be more SkyTrain attendants as well. And with fare gates installed, we will see even better security.

[cornholio]

Makes me happy when people take this information for what it is, useless fear mongering. Can it happen, sure it can, we could also have a major earthquake that does a 10,000 times more damage and kills a 1,000 times more people...today....or tomorrow...or during the Olympics. Personally I dont give a crap about some threat, there always are threats, always were and always will be. The chance of a attack personally affecting you or even harming or killing you is insignificant, so insignificant that its unlikely, very unlikely, infact its probably more unlikely then unfortunate deaths such as lightning strikes, animal attacks etc. I dont want anything but a the minium amount of money and time invested in to trying prevent these things when that money and time can be invested in to something much better like trying to prevent pedestrian deaths, drunk driving deaths, murders or any other greater danger to us.

[Nutterbug]

^I agree.

I don't think we should be too concerned with regards to safety and security. Vancouver, luckly, still has a lower risk of even many Canadian cities like Toronto (you may remember last year's planned attack on the CSIS building) and Montreal, and other international cities. If they olympics were to occur in USA however, that would be of major concern.

As long as there are American atheletes, spectators, media, etc. around, we're still just as good a target, aren't we?

[excel]

Breaking news:

BAD THINGS COULD HAPPEN SOMEWHERE AT SOME TIME... MAYBE!


This also just in:

Between now and 2010 you are more likely to die in a car accident, of a communicable disease, a freak windmill mishap, or an all-you-can-eat restaurant gorging than in a terrorist attack.

HAHA.

[cc85]

mmm, id rather live in todays world than in yesteryear when I could go out and catch the plague, or die from an invansion due to my neighbour not liking my choice of [insert random action here]

[Nutterbug]

Don't eat at a restaurant. There's an odd change a gunman can fire on you if you do.

Don't go to school either, for that matter.