ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:95080902.ECO

DATE:08/09/95

TITLE:PENA ORDERS INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES AT U.S. AIRPORTS



TEXT:

(Terrorism potential cited)  (220)



Washington -- Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena has ordered

increased security measures at U.S. airports to handle any renewed

threats of terrorism.



Pena said in an August 9 written statement that the measures,

including inspections of both carry-on and checked luggage as well as

questions of passengers about their luggage, should not delay or

inconvenience passengers.



"This increase in security is based on information provided by federal

law-enforcement and intelligence agencies which I am not at liberty to

discuss," Pena said.



"I want to emphasize that we have no information at this time to

indicate airlines, airports or any other part of our transportation

system are specifically threatened," he said.



"However, I think it is prudent to ensure that these additional

measures are in place to deter possible criminal or terrorist acts,"

he said.



He said passengers should be on the alert for suspicious, unattended

bags and parcels.



An August 9 Washington Post story speculated that the nationwide

general security alert, the first since the 1991 Gulf war, was ordered

in part in response to the recent arrest of an alleged Palestinian

terrorist leader and to the trial in New York of defendants in the

World Trade Center bombing.

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