PHL beefs up security in wake of Brussels attacks

Philadelphia police and federal law enforcement authorities stepped up patrols at Philadelphia International Airport after the terrorist attacks Tuesday morning in Brussels.

"Passengers should notice an increased visible presence of law enforcement both in, and around, the airport," airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery said.

Philadelphia police and federal law enforcement officials patrolled the airport arrivals roadway, the departures road, and inside and outside security screening areas, Flannery said. The beefed-up security was at ticket check-in counters, security screening checkpoints, and baggage-claim areas, she said.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson said in a statement that the United States had received "no specific, credible intelligence of a plot to conduct similar attacks here. That said, we remain very focused on the threat posed by lone terrorist actors who may lack direct connection to a foreign terrorist organization."

"We are concerned that such radicalized individuals, or small groups, could carry out" a U.S. attack "with little warning," he said. "We also remain very engaged in the effort to identify and disrupt foreign terrorist fighters who may seek to travel to, or from, the United States."

As a precaution, Johnson said, the Transportation Security Administration has deployed additional security personnel to major U.S. city airports and at rail and transit stations around the country.

Security has been added at transportation hubs in the Philadelphia area, police officials said.

They stressed that there was no known viable threat in the region but asked residents to be on their guard and to report anything they feel is suspicious.

"If you see something that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, tell somebody," SEPTA Police Chief Tom Nestel III said. "If you think you're bothering us by calling 911, bother us."

Johnson said that Homeland Security and the FBI had been in communication with state and local law enforcement to "share the latest" about Tuesday's attacks in Belgium. "State and law enforcement are themselves enhancing their security posture as they deem appropriate.

"There are also a number of other security measures we are taking that are not suitable for public disclosure," he said.

After the attacks in Brussels, which targeted the city's airport and subway system, American Airlines, which operates a hub and 76 percent of the flights in Philadelphia, and Delta and United Airlines canceled or diverted all flights to and from Brussels, where the airport was closed Tuesday.

Also canceled was a work stoppage by subcontracted Philadelphia airport workers, set to strike Wednesday over wage and safety issues. Instead, workers will gather at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for a vigil to honor workers and passengers who lost their lives in Brussels.

American said all its employees and crew members in Brussels were accounted for, and no injuries were reported among crew or passengers booked on Flight 751 scheduled to depart Tuesday from Brussels to Philadelphia.

American said there were inaccurate reports that the explosions happened at American's ticket counter. American's passenger check-in operates at Row 8 of the Brussels' departure hall, and the explosions did not occur at Row 8.

Brussels' airport will remain closed Wednesday.

"We're in the process, once we know when the airport will reopen, of redirecting passengers and rerouting them," said American spokeswoman Victoria Lupica. "We'll do whatever we can to get people where they need to be."

Airlines issued travel policies for customers with reservations to Brussels who want to change their itineraries. Customers who were booked for travel March 22 and 23 may request a refund, select an alternate airport, or reschedule travel through April 5, American said.

Jeffrey L. Erlbaum, president of ETA Travel in Conshohocken, said that a client scheduled for a family trip to Paris on Thursday was "equivocating" about traveling to France. "He's on American, and the airline, so far, is not allowing changes for flights to destinations outside Brussels."

Airline analyst Savanthi Syth at Raymond James said in a client note: "While the attacks took place in Brussels, it is likely to have an impact on European travel demand in general. From a timing perspective, the attacks come during peak Easter travel and ahead of peak summer travel."

lloyd@phillynews.com

215-854-2831@LoydLinda

Staff writers Julia Terruso and Nick Vadala contributed to this article.