NYPD, MTA Working To Put New Security Measures In Place After Trio Climbs Triborough Bridge, Sources Tell CBS2
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Sources tell CBS2 the MTA and NYPD will put new security enhancements on the fast track after three people climbed to the top.
As CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported, the three men who scaled the Robert F. Kennedy Tri-Borough Bridge and took photos that were posted on AnimalNewYork.com won't be able to do it again.
"From a terrorism standpoint, we're in the process of continuing the expansion of our camera system. I think you've seen on the Brooklyn Bridge and some of the others, new gates to prevent people from going up there," NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said.
The MTA said security changes will be made as soon as possible.
"We are working with the NYPD to investigate this incident and are accelerating some planned security enhancements at the bridge," said MTA Spokesman Adam Lisberg. "Trespassing anywhere on MTA property is dangerous and I hope people who risk their lives to take these photographs get arrested before they get killed."
Terrorism experts voiced concern that the men got to the gear room that controls the lift bridge connecting the Bronx and Manhattan. The room was locked, but a device to open the door was nearby, Kramer reported.
"(Are you going to change that?) I haven't been briefed on that aspect of it but at this time were not concerned about any security or terrorism-related threat," Bratton said.
Bridge expert Dave Frieder, who went to the top on a photo shoot with MTA officials, said the men couldn't have moved the lift bridge because they didn't have a key to the machinery. But still, he says the security worries are serious.
"If a terrorist got up there, they could cause severe damage to the bridge, unfortunately. (What could they do?) They could destroy the machine room, they could put explosives up there, this really worries me," Frieder said.
In the last 12 months, NYC bridges have been frequent targets.
