Security Tightened On Tokyo Subway In Response To Anonymous Tip

September 28, 2007

Mercedes Rullan – AHN News Writer

Tokyo, Japan (AHN) – A phone call warning of an alleged terrorist attack prompted police to tighten security on Tokyo’s subways this week, local media and official said on Friday.

An anonymous caller told authorities that a terrorist group from Pakistan, was hiding in Central Tokyo to conduct suicide attacks on the subways Friday morning.

Investigators were dispatched to several locations in Tokyo immediately after the phone call on Wednesday, but authorities did not identify who received the phone call. The unidentified caller demanded about $2 million in return for the information, local media reported.

No bombs were located at one location near downtown Tokyo, no bombing incidents occurred as well.

Hidekazu Hazeyama, subway spokesperson of Tokyo Metro, the city’s main subway system, asked them to increase vigilance Thursday without providing any explanation but said it was just protocol.

Local media reported Friday that a man called police and a Japanese embassy on Wednesday saying that a terrorist group had brought bombs into Tokyo with plans to attack public transportation.

A similar call was received by U.S. authorities several days earlier, the local media reported. The U.S. suspected that the call was possibly the same man because he also asked reward in exchange for the information about alleged planned terrorist attacks.

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