After warning that terrorist saboteurs might try to
poison Metro water with "anthrax" or "smallpox,"
WTVF-Channel 5 reporter Rob Manning thought he'd
show viewers how easily that could happen by
dramatically crawling under a wire fence just "a few
hundred yards" from the city's "water supply."
While the camera focused ominously on some large,
nearby water tanks, Manning reported from inside the
fence, "It's not too hard to crawl underneath.... It took
me less than 20 seconds."
Even Metro security guards appeared unconcerned at
the sight of a television reporter lurking near the fence.
"A security guard pulled up in his truck but didn't
question us," Manning noted, mocking the city's
recently announced decision to post more guards
around the plant.
If only the terrorists were that dumb.
Instead of cracking security at one of Metro's water
collection facilities, located several miles away,
Manning had only managed to break into the sewage
treatment plant.
A Metro Water Department spokesman says that he
didn't complain to Channel 5 because Manning's
mistake might work to the city's advantage. "After all,"
he says, "If a terrorist tried to put something in our
water supply, we'd rather he end up at the sewage
plant."
Nice shot!
