As a general rule, I’m not much for the theory that writing about or otherwise publicizing security threats – be they in the physical or virtual worlds – serves to increase the odds that some evil-doer will notice and be prompted to do evil.
Sometimes, though, the theory seems more plausible than others, witness news today of a videotape produced by the New York City Police Department that demonstrates the ease with which one could procure deadly quantities of chlorine.
From the Associated Press:
In the video, an intelligence detective describes how in June 2007 the department fabricated a water purification company, complete with a mailing address, Web site and a phony contract with the city to clean up a polluted creek in Brooklyn. Investigators, after using the Internet to identify local vendors, used a credit card to place an order with one unnamed firm for three 100-pound cylinders of chlorine.
No one ever asked for identification and the purchase required little human interaction, police said.
The video includes surveillance footage of a truck delivering the canisters on a rain-slicked Brooklyn street lined with warehouses. At the time, hazardous material teams were on standby to respond to any accidents, police said.
Now, to be sure the story indicated that the video was shown to private security professionals and not screened at the local multiplex, but the mere description of the undercover operation is enough to give anyone the willies.
Not saying they shouldn’t have done it.
Just hoping they now follow through with any and every measure appropriate to the risk they’ve identified.
