The terror attacks at the international airport and a subway station in Brussels, Belgium that claimed at least 31 lives and injured at least 187 people has caused heightened security on Metro lines today.
Metro announced it will increase security at Union Station, Rosa Parks station and 7th/Metro.
“Metro and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Transit Policing Division are aware of the terrorist strikes in Belgium and are monitoring the situation closely,” Metro said in a statement. “While we maintain a high state of readiness at all times, we will be increasing security.”
There is no tangible threat to any transit system in Los Angeles, Transit Services Bureau spokesman Ramon Montenegro told City News Service.
“Right now, we are monitoring the situation in Brussels and maintaining close contact and communications with our county Emergency Operations Center, Homeland Security and LA Metro,” Montenegro said.
“I’m certain that we will increase security in the aftermath of these attacks on all transit lines,” Montenegro said. “We also have special security teams that we will likely deploy later today.”
Montenegro said the security patrols include bomb-sniffing dogs that are regularly deployed along the Red Line subway route.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Brussels and to the first responders,” he said. “We just pray that no one else gets hurt there.”
Metro asked the public to be aware of their surroundings when in a transportation center and stressed the importance of calling attention to something or someone that may seem unusual.
“We are asking the public to be our eyes and ears on the system,” Metro said. “If you see something, say something.”
LAX Airport Police spokeswoman Alicia Hernandez said the department is increasing its visual presence at the airport and readying rapid deployment strategies.
“We take attacks on aviation very seriously,” Hernandez said, promising they will “make adjustments to security as necessary.”
