[U.S.] Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña announced today that security officials representing the United States and seven other countries will meet next spring to improve ground transportation anti-terrorism activities.

"More than ever, transportation systems are being singled out as targets of terrorism," said the Secretary, stressing the need for improved international consultations on this problem. The meeting will focus on improving the prevention, investigation and response to terrorism and enhanced communication among governments.

In 1995, approximately 20 percent of the more than 2,000 identified terrorist acts worldwide were aimed at transportation systems.

The Secretary said next spring's meeting in Washington would discuss "an international network for exchanging information and technology to strengthen the global battle to prevent terrorist attacks on land transportation systems."

Agreement to hold such a meeting came at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of land transportation officials of the group of seven plus Russia (G-7/P-8) in Washington. Attending this week's meeting were representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The participants shared information on land transportation security and what can be done to reduce the threat of terrorism. The development of a system for international cooperation was also preliminarily discussed.

Highlighting significant attacks against transportation in 1994 and 1995, Secretary Peña noted:

• A series of bombing attacks in 1994 against the rail and subway system in Azerbaijan, in 1994 which killed dozens and injured hundreds;

• The October derailment of an Amtrak passenger train near Hyder, Ariz., which killed one and injured 78;

• The July bombing of a Paris subway station, which killed seven and wounded over 80;

• The April bus bombing in Israel which killed eight and injured 50; and

• The March sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway, which killed 12 and injured 5,500.

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Source: U.S. Department of Transportation. News, November 19, 1996 (DOT 259-96).