Philadelphia & terrorism: A disturbing tale

WHEN I learned that information taken from Osama bin Laden's recently confiscated hard drive indicated that trains in the U.S. were being targeted, it reminded me of a chilling situation that I experienced late last year.

On the morning of Nov. 30, I took the Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail to Center City for a hair appointment. As usual, I got on the train at the Mount Airy station, in the northwest section of the city. I chose my seat and gazed out the window, anticipating my gray roots being covered - yet again.

Soon after I boarded, the train stopped to pick up passengers at the Washington Lane station. A fair-skinned man dressed in casual clothing boarded and sat directly in front of me.

He caught my eye because people of color tend to board at this station, and he looked almost Caucasian or Latino. His black baseball cap with a "P" on it also caught my attention. As the conductor made his way through the car to collect fares, I overheard him say, in a dialect with which I was unfamiliar, that he was going to Market East.

A few minutes into the ride, this passenger took out a small camera, pointed it at the window and began videotaping our ride.

He periodically talked on the phone in his native tongue during the ride. I began to feel unnerved as the train approached the Wayne Junction station near the city's heavily populated Germantown section because he was clearly taping the train yard there. As the train pulled out, I could see him shooting the electrical equipment.

As a person of color myself, I'm not one for stereotyping, but I had the strong suspicion he was conducting a reconnaissance. Between Wayne Junction and the Temple University station, we passengers were told that the train was going to be put out of service. At this point I felt really nervous and sent my husband a brief text message: "The guy n front of me videotaped the electrical equip @wayne junct."

It was 10:55 a.m. My husband suggested I dial 9-1-1. After we disembarked and boarded the new train, I deliberately sat in a different car so that I could speak to the conductor about my observation.

I told the conductor what I'd seen and described the individual. I felt a small sense of relief, believing the conductor would call the transit police. As we entered the Market East station downtown, I expected to see several police officers who would search the train and pull the man aside for questioning.

To my extreme disappointment, no police were there, only passengers. As I left the train, I reiterated my concerns to the conductor and a co-worker. I was told the train would be searched.

Searched?

But wait, the story gets better!

I made my way up the escalator to the 12th and Market exit in the heart of Center City and looked for a police officer.

There were none in the station.

I proceeded to the street and - guess what - I ran into this gentleman AGAIN! He was on the concourse level of the station near an elevator that leads to a bank, a Dunkin' Donuts and a restaurant. As I watched, he began videotaping the Gallery mall. I doubled back into the station, hoping to find an officer, but still none were to be found.

After leaving the station, I went to Reading Terminal Market, a tourist attraction just a stone's throw from City Hall. I happened to find an off-duty Philadelphia police officer and explained what just happened.

I asked him if he could radio officers in the vicinity of the station to alert them.

He couldn't because he didn't have his radio, but he assured me he would check into it once he left the market.

By this time my head was pounding from stress. I related my experience to Carmen, who owns a sandwich stand at the market. We agreed that the city was not prepared for a terrorist attack - but will certainly cry about it if something tragic should happen. He encouraged me to file a report with SEPTA police. I did so by telephone that same day.

As citizens, we are told to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to the authorities. I did that and got no results.

I wonder what would have happened if my observations had been taken seriously. What if this guy were questioned by SEPTA police and Homeland Security's local office?

What if his footage was viewed?

What if his detainment led to a larger network? Could Homeland Security have learned in November that train systems in major cities were being targeted, instead of learning it now based on data retrieved from Osama bin Laden's recently confiscated hard drive? Just wondering.

LaVeta Jones an associate producer in television-turned-stay-at-home mom.