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From: pierson@cimnet.dec.com
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: The Channel Tunnel
Message-ID: <11281@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 9 Nov 89 15:34:39 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: pierson@cimnet.dec.com

In article <11203@cbnews.ATT.COM>,
adrian%cs.heriot-watt.ac.uk@NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK (Adrian Hurt) writes (in part)...
..
>I assume that folks here have heard of the proposed tunnel under the English
>Channel, between south-east England and France.  It seems to me that if it is
>completed, it will be a perfect target for terrorists.  All it needs is a car
>full of baddies at each end, armed with assault rifles and probably grenades,
>and equipped also with radios or good watches for synchronisation, and they
>could hold the whole tunnel to ransom.  Especially if they can get hold of
>enough explosive, of sufficient power, to put a hole in the tunnel.
>
..
The concern has been raised.  It, in part, was presumably the reason for UK
Government insisting that full "airport style" security checks be made at
boarding stations, a proposal with serious impact on journey times.  Also, one
not being implemented on the Continental end, I believe.  Note (for detail
accuracy) that the "Chunnel" is a rail link, offering a mix of through
passenger and freight and rollon/rolloff "trainferry" trains...

The whole area of international terrorism and security is going to have some
interesting implications with the "one Europe" integration in '92(?).  At that
time all border controls and passports are scheduled to go away for 
internal-to-EEC travel, as I understand it.

The tunnel portal installations themselves, and associated car parks and yards, 
can be "secure areas".  Note that until fairly recently Switzerland, for one,
had security restrictions on tunnel portals for the mountain tunnels.

thanks
dave pierson			|The facts as accurately as i can manage,
600 Nickerson Rd		|The opinions, my own.
Marlboro, Mass
01742				pierson@cimnet.enet.dec.com