NY train tunnels vulnerable to bomb attack

By Afp, Washington
22 December 2006, 18:00 PM
Train tunnels under New York's Hudson River are more vulnerable to a bomb attack than previously thought, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing an analysis done for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

A relatively small amount of high explosives could cause significant flooding of the rail system within hours, the Times reports, citing the document.

The newspaper received a draft summary of the most recent analysis from a government official who -- according to the Times -- was concerned over the Port Authority's failure to respond to the information after receiving it three weeks ago.

The analysis shows it would take a mere six minutes for any of the four Port Authority train tunnels to flood if a bomb -- which the newspaper described as "significant but not necessarily very large" -- were detonated.