Parts of Boston remain inaccessible and areas of Washington DC also have additional securitymeasures in place following the deadly bomb attack at the Boston Marathon on Monday (April 15),
although express operators have not reported any major widespread security changes.Global security specialist Red24 reported that heightened security had been implemented aroundhotels, transport hubs, government buildings and other key locations in New York City, WashingtonDC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other major urban centres, as a precautionary measure after theblasts. Aviation authorities initially temporarily closed selected airspace over Boston, althoughthis measure has since been lifted.
A source at Red24 told CEP-Research that cargo and express parcels may be subject to additionalscreening, although neither government authorities nor major US courier services had directlystated this would be the case. “Cargo screening measures in the US have been stringent since theOctober 2010 foiled bomb plot on a US-bound cargo plane,” she added.
UPS said there were no delays to its Logan Airport gateway operations and the company wasoperating in Boston where streets were accessible and remained committed to moving shipments totheir final destinations as quickly as possible.
A spokeswoman told CEP-Research that the active investigation area in Boston around the site ofthe attacks was reduced from 16 blocks to 12 blocks yesterday, and the company had been in contactwith customers in this area to make alternative arrangements or redirected deliveries. She added: “Some buildings have themselves changed entry or exit protocols, which may introduce some delay, butour drivers adhere to those changes and we complete our service.”
UPS stressed that it does not detail any of its security protocol, which includes layeredmeasures and “continuous assessment of information for packages moving in our network as well asengagement with law enforcement for appropriate cooperation with active investigations”.
FedEx also declined to give specific details of its security arrangements but emphasised that ithas multiple layers of security processes and procedures and is “committed to protecting theintegrity and safety of our network, our people, our company assets, and customer shipments”.
A spokeswoman added: “Regarding deliveries, portions of Boston are still inaccessible after thetragic events earlier this week and Washington DC also has additional security. FedEx will operatein all locations in which authorities allow access.”
A DHL Express spokesman said: “We do not discuss specific security processes as a matter ofpolicy. However, we can confirm that we have stringent measures in place to prevent, identify andeliminate security risks in our global network and we cooperate closely with the relevant aviationand law enforcement authorities throughout the world in ensuring the highest safety and securitystandards are observed for air transport.”
