Nuke detectors to ring New York, official says
February 10, 2007
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Devices to detect nuclear or dirty weapons will surround
New York City by the end of 2007, a Homeland
Security official says.
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• Homeland Security to place devices around city, official says
• Official says test project to cost at least $46 million
• Detection effort expands from waterborne to overland
• Locations to remain secret "for obvious reasons"
Washington (CNN) - New York City will be protected
by a ring of devices to detect nuclear or dirty bombs before
the end of the year, the Department of Homeland Security
said Friday.
A dirty bomb is one that spreads radiation without employing
a nuclear explosion.
The Department of Homeland Security hopes
the circle of sensors will give warning if a bomb is transported
into the city by land.
Most previous detection efforts have focused on preventing
a bomb from being smuggled into the city by sea.
Under the "Securing the Cities" initiative, detectors
will be placed along highways, at truck stops, in weigh stations
and at other sites on the perimeter of New York,
as well as locations closer to the city center, an official
said. Locations will not be made public "for obvious reasons,"
the official said.
The department's proposed 2008 budget would provide $30 million
for the project, in addition to the roughly $16 million that
has already been invested. The New York project
will serve as a test for other cities, the official said.
Homeland Security is building the network
in cooperation with the New York Police Department
and other state and local governments in New York
and New Jersey. Local governments will respond
to any alarms.
"We expect to have this operational this year," the
official said. He said the participants are working to establish
protocols on how to operate the system and respond to alerts.
CNN.com
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