DOTC places all train stations on alert after India bombings

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) heightened security yesterday in the railways system following attacks by terrorists on trains in Mumbai, India that left 183 people dead.

Retired general Thompson Lantion, DOTC spokesman, said they had already alerted the heads of the EDSA-based Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, as well as the Philippine National Railways (PNR), to the red-alert status.

"We have asked the heads of the MRT, LRT and PNR to heighten their alert, to put on red alert, the security personnel to avoid these terrorist acts," he said.

President Arroyo condemned the bomb attacks during the Tuesday rush hour in the financial center of Mumbai as "evil personified."

"This atrocity is beyond words; it is evil personified and we join the world in denouncing its perpetrators," she said in a statement.

"The Filipino people join the global community in strongly condemning the series of bombings that left hundreds of commuters dead (or wounded) in Mumbai," the Chief Executive said.

Mrs. Arroyo also offered her condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the Indian government for the "abrupt, violent and needless loss of lives."

Lantion also appealed to train passengers to submit themselves to baggage inspection as security men would strictly enforce the "no-inspection, no-entry" policy.

He also asked the public to quickly alert security personnel or the DOTC Action Center at the "7890" hotline number if they find anything suspicious in train stations or inside the trains.

The United States has already raised its alert on train stations, he added.

Suspected terrorists bombed Mumbai’s trains late Tuesday night, killing at least 183 people.

Seven coordinated explosions ripped through packed commuter trains during evening rush hour in Mumbai Tuesday.

Indian authorities are investigating and searching for clues as to who was behind the coordinated bomb blasts.

The attacks were on first-class compartments and railway stations.

Nearly 700 people were wounded when seven bombs blew apart railway carriages and stations packed with rush-hour commuters in the space of just 11 minutes.

The death toll was the worst since a series of bombs killed more than 250 people in Mumbai in 1993.

The attacks were also reminiscent of serial bomb blasts on commuter rail networks in Madrid and London in the past two years. — With Paolo Romero, AFP