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American Morning

New York City Steps Up Security with National Guard

Aired October 09, 2001 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: In New York, National Guard troops are joining forces with New York City police this morning. They are taking positions at bridges, tunnels and train stations. CNN's Martin Savidge is live in New York with the latest.

Boy, can you see them, can't you?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you can, Paula. Good morning to you again. New York City operating at its highest level security of alert, condition Omega. There are four levels of security alerts in New York City but none of them go any higher than that. And although they can not add to the level of security, at least delineation-wise, they are adding to the numbers. New York governor, George Pataki, announcing several hundred more National Guard members are being called up. This is how he made that announcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: We're unaware of any specific threat against any site or New York specifically. We just believe that as the whole country has to take these enhanced security measures, that we should certainly be doing that in the city and in other parts of the state as well. We will be continuing to look, literally, hour by hour at the situation to determine what other security steps may or may not be appropriate at the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: The soldiers are already in place at New York's airports and they are also guarding bridges and tunnels. This morning for the first time, they made their appearance at the major rail stations. That includes Penn Station and Grand Central Station. Passengers we talked to say they don't have a problem with that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm glad they're here. You know, it's comforting to see them around.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's a good thing, because, I mean, these could be major targets of terrorists. So I think we need protection. We need to feel safe. You know, so life can resume.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very important they are here, because of what's going on with terrorism. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I appreciate seeing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Meanwhile, we are here at one of the many checkpoints now that have been set up since September 11 around the city of New York. This is the Manhattan side of the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. There is an identical checkpoint like this one on the New Jersey side of the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, and checkpoints like this on all of the major arteries leading in and out of Manhattan. The way they operate fairly simple and straightforward.

Police officers here stop vehicles, mainly trucks, going into the tunnel. They inspect them. Once given clearance, they are allowed to proceed on. All of this, officials of New York City say, is for the purpose of making New York the safest large city in all of America. The people of New York certainly hope that is true -- Paula.

ZAHN: What's the expectation? How long will these troops stay in place?

SAVIDGE: Well, the initial deployment, those that were called up for the airports, and it must be similar probably for the railway stations, was originally said to be about four to six months. It was admitted that it was a stop-gap measure until more permanent security measures could be put in place.

ZAHN: Martin Savidge, thanks so much.

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