NYPD Says City Rail Systems Are Safe Following Two Security Breaches

By: NY1 News

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Authorities are assuring the public the rail system is safe after two security breaches over the weekend.

In one incident early Sunday, four men were able to get into a portion of an old Second Avenue subway tunnel, reportedly carrying Roman candles.

Eric Ruggiero, 25, Jacob Bloom, 21, and Braden O'Sullivan, 21, were arraigned Monday morning on criminal trespassing charges and are due back in court on July 21.

The fourth man, William West, 21, is still awaiting arraignment on trespassing charges.

Sources say the four defendants claimed to be "urban explorers."

In the other weekend incident, police arrested 20-year-old Reymundo Rodriguez of Bayonne, N.J., after he entered a PATH train tunnel at the World Trade Center and walked to New Jersey. He's facing charges of criminal trespassing and interfering with the rail system.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said neither of these incidents have anything to do with terrorism or a potential terrorist threat, and that they city is taking every precaution to make sure the subways are safe.

"There are no guarantees," Kelly said Monday. "We are doing more than any other city, anywhere, to protect ourselves."

"I feel safe riding the subway and I feel safe having my daughters ride the subway," Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters. "You should feel safe. If you see something that looks strange, go up to somebody, a police officer or somebody that is working for the [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] and let the professionals handle it."

There has been a heightened level of concern about the rail system since the death of Osama bin Laden.

Intelligence recovered at his Pakistan compound suggested the al-Qaida leader was considering an attack on the U.S. rail system.

Senator Charles Schumer has proposed creating a "no ride list" for trains, similar to the no fly list used at airports.

Speaking in the city today, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed confidence in the safety of the nation's rail systems, but he did not rule out Schumer's proposal.

Schumer also called for increased funding for rail security.