Last week’s bombings in London were the second attack on the transit system in a major city in as many years. Even though many Canadians like to keep their heads in the sand while thinking "it can’t happen here", those who are in charge of our security say differently. and we can’t readily dismiss Osama bin Laden’s naming Canada as a target for terrorist attacks.
It is highly unlikely that we will ever see terrorists engage in the multiple hijacking of aircraft again. Even with pre-9/11 security measures, only three of the four planes made it to their targets. Now, with increased security the odds are astronomical that the attacks that took place on New York and Washington on that sunny morning almost four years ago could be repeated.
But major Canadian cities are all extremely vulnerable to the type of terrorist attacks that took place in London and Madrid. although it is easy to rhyme off possible Canadian targets such as the Rogers Centre or buildings in Toronto’s financial district, if recent history is any guide, it is the Toronto subway system that constitutes the most likely target of Islamic extremism.
an attack on the Toronto subway system would have severe implications for the city beyond the obvious and immediate effects of such an act of terrorism. Unlike many other places in North america, public transit in Toronto is not by and large restricted to those who cannot or do not own automobiles. Public transit is used by many in Canada’s largest city because it is more convenient, sometimes quicker and/or cheaper than driving, not because it is necessary. We see this every time there is a transit strike and it takes a relatively long time for ridership to increase to pre-strike levels. Toronto is neither London nor Madrid; cities that have experienced terror attacks from the IRa and Basque separatists respectively. Our lack of direct experience with terrorism, coupled with the denial that Canada could possibly be a target would be devastating to the future of public transit. It’s hard to imagine many Torontonians acting as many Londoners did last week; going to a pub for a few drinks on the evening of an attack, heading home and then hopping on the tube the next to go to work.
Subways cannot be protected in the same manner that airplanes can. airline-style security checks cannot obviously be imposed on people every time someone hops on a subway train or a bus. Nevertheless there are steps that can be taken that can minimize the chances that Toronto’s transit system will come under attack from Islamic terrorists.
To begin with, and this may be more symbolic than real, we have to get that buffoon, Howard Moscoe, out of any role within the Toronto Transit Commission. The long-term city councillor and TTC chair made flippant remarks concerning the possibility of an attack on Toronto’s subway system. Moscoe opined that Toronto will not be attacked because terrorists would not be able to find Toronto. Some jihadist, sitting in a cave in afghanistan might reasonably conclude that Howard’s the TTC chair because he’s the best and the brightest that we have and therefore Toronto would be an easy mark. Howard should be sent on a permanent junket; perhaps to London where he can make his funny jokes to the surviving family members of those who lost their lives last week.
On the day of the London blasts, pictures emerged showing machine-gun toting police officers riding the subway trains in Washington. Having more police present in the subway system with automatic weapons and/or bomb sniffing dogs would give riders a sense of security. and it would to some extent act as a deterrent to those who would wish to bring us down even though attacks could not be completely stopped.
Finally, transit users should be encouraged to report suspicious activity that they observe in the system such as people, yes of Middle Eastern decent, taking videos of the subway system. Sure, anyone found taking videos will sue and claim racial profiling, ethnic stereotyping and Islamophobia. Let them sue; the cost will be less than having to rebuild three or four subway stations. and let’s not confuse the police stopping young black male drivers with steps that are needed trying to prevent a terrorist attack. a telephone number should be set up where citizens can report suspicious activity on the transit system and the number should be displayed prominently on TTC routes. These actions would go a long way in minimizing the chance that we will be attacked.
Of course political correctness and this city’s squeamishness over heavily armed police will prevent these measures from being implemented. and besides, we’re so nice, it will never happen here.
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