NEW YORK -- A top US official announced Wednesday a 78-million-dollar boost for counterterror teams on public transport nationwide, with almost half going to New York.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, speaking at New York's Grand Central rail terminal, said the extra funds would pay for 240 new officers at 15 transit systems, with an emphasis on terror prevention and explosives detection.
About 35 million dollars will go to New York, which has the nation's busiest transit system.
Napolitano, speaking just after her first visit to Ground Zero, site of the September 11, 2001 attack on Manhattan, said "we always have to assume (New York) is a target."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city remained "a prime target" and the new funds would allow creation of 30 new counterterror teams.
The announcement was made in the bustling, ornate center of Grand Central.
Dozens of uniformed police and at least one serviceman in camouflage and armed with an automatic rifle could be seen guarding the location.
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