Normal Heightened Security Mode at Bradley Airport in Wake of Bin Laden Death

While the U.S. State Department has issued warnings for Americans traveling abroad after Osama bin Laden’s killing by American forces in Pakistan, there were no visible changes to security at Bradley International Airport Monday.

Passengers moved through terminal with ease Monday but reacted largely in support of the military action on Sunday.

“I’m pumped,” Jim Wilson, of Indiana said. “Sweet revenge.”

Wilson said he realizes that bin Laden’s killing is just the beginning of the next phase in the war on terror. He said he first learned of the news when he got Chicago’s O’Hare Airport Monday morning. He said everything seemed normal there except for people being glued to TV screen getting the latest news.

Ken Manley, of Montana, said he thought bin Laden’s discovery and death was good. He said he thought the U.S. would catch bin Laden.

“Eventually, everybody gets caught,” Manley said after he collected his bags at Bradley. “The troops did a great job.”

Bradley security was working in its normal heightened mode Monday, John Wallace, airport spokesman said. News of bin Laden’s death had not created new security measures that slowed travelers at the airport, he said.
 
The airport has several levels of security from Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration people, the state police’s Troop W, private security guards, airport employees watching for anything unusual and other measures that aren’t visible to the public, Wallace said.

“We’re always at a heightened sense of alert,” Wallace said. “Airport employees are vigilant at all times.”

Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman, said the department doesn’t discuss specific security arrangements but everyone is aware of the situation. Officials aren’t taking anything for granted and have had discussions with intelligence experts about any possibilities, Vance said.

“We are ramping up things a little bit, temporarily,” Vance said. “We ask the public to go about its business but be vigilant. If they see something let someone know about it.”

Hartford resident Gregory Palmer said he became aware of bin Laden’s death Monday morning. He said bin Laden’s death was “long overdue.”

“Just one person,” Palmer said. “I can’t understand how he could evade capture for 10 years.”

Sean Peck-Collier, from Port Angeles, WA, said he was surprised to find out that bin Laden had been killed. 

“Last I heard even though he was a big priority target we sort of accepted he was a non-essential now that we’ve got him on the run,” Peck-Collier said.

Bin Laden’s death is not going change the face of things no such as the American troops in Afghanistan now or the number of people who have died, he said.

“In the end its really going to help us or be a rallying point for the Taliban or Al Qaeda or other terrorists,” Peck-Collier said.