Hearing to be held on security at federal buildings
By
Posted 7:35AM on Tuesday, April 30, 2002
WASHINGTON - A congressional hearing will be held in Atlanta Tuesday on security in federal buildings. <br>
<br>
According to a report obtained by The Associated Press, undercover agents were able to gain unauthorized access to four Atlanta federal buildings during tests earlier this year. <br>
<br>
The investigators easily slipped briefcases and packages past security checkpoints. <br>
<br>
The test by the General Accounting Office - the investigative arm of Congress - provides details about the lack of security at federal buildings, even after the Oklahoma City bombing and September 11th terrorist attacks. <br>
<br>
According to the acting director for the GAO's Office of Special Investigations - during February and March - the special agents were able to bypass magnetometers and X-ray machines, carrying items that could have been explosives, chemical weapons or listening devices. <br>
<br>
The buildings were the Richard Russell Building, the Sam Nunn Federal Building, the Summit Federal Building and the Martin Luther King Junior Federal Building. <br>
<br>
Representative Bob Barr will host today's hearing - at the Summit building.