(In)Security at the DNCC

So I was chatting with a friend who does security evaluation & TSCM, about security at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He was doing a walkthrough for a client and had a less than favorable reaction:

[Here are] some seriously easy ones, that can be verified without mulling around, and can be seen by the layman.

There are jersey barriers in front of the O'Neil building, but none of them are staked down, none of them are connected together, and none of them have interlocking cables of any sort. The same barriers are not installed properly with some of them either teetering across the curb, or or spaced so far apart so as to allow a vehicle to access the front of the building(s).

The temporary communications trailer (Verizon) has been installed right at the edge of the street and is a plywood trailer with a fiberglass/sheet metal shell. Easy to destroy/damage, also easy to take out from a considerable distance with a rifle. I actually walked through the Verizon trailer yesterday (unescorted, and uninvited) and through a fist full of red and black poker chips behind the switching cabinet.

Ditto for the two large HVAC/Gensets at the outer corners of the pavilion. Easy access, easy to sabotage, fully accessible even now (I opened the service panel of both and mulled around for a few minutes before departing).

Chains, cables, and nets has not yet been installed on either side of the locks on the Charles, nor does it appear that the moorings for these nets have yet been installed (it takes over a month to install one of these). Also, the actuators for these nets have not been installed either.

While the road in front of the Fleet center is in the middle of being resurfaced there has been no provisions made for a hydraulic or pneumatic barrier on any of the roads, nor have any of the road been prepared to staking anchors for any other kind of barriers (the anchors would have to be poured before now).

There needs to be a "sterile corridor" in place 3-4 weeks prior the DNC, which is now only two weeks out. Hot topping and road construction continues in the area, and there is going to be zero time left to build out the sterile corridor.

As per the head of security at MGH, Shriners, and Spaulding Rehab (just a few blocks from the DNC) the two heliports associated with the hospitals will continue to operate during the DNC (major hazard).

Semi trucks WILL BE ALLOWED INSIDE the Fleet Center prior to, during, and after the convention... and tour/shuttle buses will be running.

Ambulances will be stationed 7/24 on both the loading side, and access road side of the Fleet... Hint: Ambulances are usually left running at the local hospitals (just a few blocks away), AND will be allowed to queue up en-mass at the DNC. It will be very easy for a mischief maker to steal on of these ambulances and "crash the party", or steal it, pack it with explosives (in a few minutes), and delivery it to the pavillion.

Only the "inbound" side of the major roads will be blocked off, and then only with a couple of J-Barriers and a police car. Neither is capable of physically stopping anything larger than a pickup truck.

There is a huge radio coverage hole, or shadow if you will at and around the Fleet Center as communications by Radio is going to be touchy at best.

"I could go on...." he sez.

Hmmmm.

As a followup to the whole issue of a RF "coverage hole", I asked if that would effect wireless & TV. He agreed and also included: "and cell phones, PDA's, beepers, car alarms, pacemakers, etc." He suggested folks "WiFi off the open network at the O'Neil building next to the DNCC instead."

*shakes head* - will someone PLEASE get the Boston Police, DHS and FBI up to speed? This is embarrassing.

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