Preventing Terrorist Bombings on United States Subway Systems

Abstract : In the past three years, major attacks on mass transportation in Moscow, Madrid, London, and Mumbai left hundreds dead, thousands injured and the world searching for answers. Subway systems are not only attractive targets, but evidence persists of a continued terrorist interest in conducting attacks on United States subways and railways. An attack on a subway or rail system in the United States could cause substantial loss of life and could have an adverse impact on public confidence, resulting in massive economic loss. This thesis examines a series of security initiatives that collectively comprise a plan to be used as a template for mass transit systems in the United States that operate a subway to augment security. The core goal of these initiatives identifies ways to increase the probability of early detection to prevent terrorist bombings of all types on United States subway systems.