Police Investigate Men Taking Pictures Along SEPTA Route

Police Investigate Men Taking Pictures Along SEPTA Route – Philadelphia A heightened state of alert has resulted in a substantial increase in tips and sightings of suspicious activity across the country. One report that is causing concern in Philadelphia is that of men taking pictures on the Broad Street subway line in South Philadelphia, twice in the past two days. Police are investigating and looking at video that was captured in at least one of the events.

From Philly 57 News

On Wednesday, a SEPTA cashier told officers about a man taking pictures at the Lombard-South station, but the man, after being questioned by the cashier about his activities, left before officers arrived.

On Tuesday, officers received a report of a male taking pictures in the track area at the Snyder Avenue station.

So far, neither male has been identified, although Philadelphia Police officials say the two separate incidents have no link to any terrorist activities.

While police have video of the man who they are hoping to interview from the Snyder Avenue Station incident, there is no video of the second man because cameras at the Lombard-South station, and at three of six SEPTA subway stations in South Philadelphia, are covered and not yet working.

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Subway Hammer Attack Suspect Identified – Police Expect Arrest

Surveillance Video of Subway Hammer Attack

UPDATE – SUSPECT ARRESTED

Police have arrested a man suspected of brutally attacking a dozing subway passenger with a hammer while other riders did nothing to stop the assault, the city’s police commissioner said Wednesday.

Thomas Scantling, 26, of Philadelphia, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and related charges, police said.

Scantling, who was taken into custody in a mental institution late Tuesday, has a lengthy record of rape and other convictions, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said on NBC’s “Today.”

The victim was treated and released from a hospital.

Ramsey criticized other riders for standing by when the assailant entered the train with his 5-year-old son, directed the boy to a seat, calmly pulled a hammer from a backpack and attacked a man dozing in a nearby seat.

At least 10 other riders were in the car, yet no one interfered as the attacker repeatedly struck the victim in the train car and later out on a platform, Ramsey said on “Today.”

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Police said a surveillance video released Monday helped them identify on Tuesday the man who carried out the attack while accompanied by a small child.

Police said they know who their suspect is and they know his whereabouts. They hope to have a warrant for his arrest within the next few hours. Read more