Nation's capital declares crime emergency

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

WASHINGTON - Two groups of tourists were robbed at gunpoint on the National Mall, just hours after the police chief declared a crime emergency in the city in response to a string of violence that included the killing of a British activist.

The activist, Alan Senitt, was attacked in the Georgetown area on Sunday, his throat was slit and police say the attackers attempted to rape his companion. It was the 13th homicide in the city this month. Robberies are up 14 percent, and armed assaults have jumped 18 percent in the past 30 days.

On Wednesday, U.S. Park Police were looking for connections between the latest Mall robberies and three similar incidents in the area in late May. There have been no arrests in any of those cases.

On Tuesday night, two women from Texas were robbed at gunpoint by two men dressed in all black, said U.S. Park Police Sgt. Scott Fear. About 15 minutes later, a family of four from Missouri was robbed by suspects with the same description, he said.

Though no one was injured, Fear said there were similarities to three violent attacks on the National Mall in May. In one case, a 17-year-old woman was sexually assaulted.

"We try to prevent this from happening," Fear said. "We're going to reallocate our resources. We're going to see what improvements we can make."

District of Columbia Police Chief Charles Ramsey declared a crime emergency in the city after Senitt, a volunteer for the potential presidential campaign of former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, was killed.

The crime emergency declaration allows commanders more flexibility to adjust officers' schedules and reassign them to high-crime areas.

The tourist-friendly National Mall, which is under the jurisdiction of Park Police rather than D.C. police, is usually considered safe. But the recent crimes against tourists have raised calls for a larger police presence.

Police are asking Mall visitors to "be our eyes and ears," Fear said. "We're going to ask them to be vigilant."

[peejay 327]

This coming from a city with some of the toughest gun control laws on the books. I wonder if these thugs would be so brazen if they had to consider whether law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits and firearms training were mixed in with the general public?

[Traviesa 0]

That's pretty scary. I work in DC and have lately been needing to do a lot more traveling within the city.

[chri'stina 190]

I had no idea what Washington DC was really like until I went there in 98. You have the nice little capital area, and then we got lost driving through some very very rough looking areas. It was kinda scary.

[mawilson 2,133]

Those pesky British activists.....always getting in the way of armed robberies

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

Those pesky British activists.....always getting in the way of armed robberies

he had on his UN shirt, he thought he was safe

[iceyspots 0]

crime statistics.........

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

arm the law abiding citizens? surely you jest!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

arm the law abiding citizens? surely you jest!

I only think it's fair since the criminals are armed already.

[Ban Hammer 14,295]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

arm the law abiding citizens? surely you jest!

I only think it's fair since the criminals are armed already.

well that's why they are criminals!

[Lewis 0]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

arm the law abiding citizens? surely you jest!

I only think it's fair since the criminals are armed already.

I live about 20 minutes outside DC in the Maryland suburbs. If citizens owned hanguns in DC, there would be outright chaos, even more than what is occuring at this point. It would discourage monies flowing into the city through the tourism, hospitality and transportation industries, it's really an economics issue. No one would want to visit DC and the politicians that work there would never allow a handgun law to be passed in any fashion. There is a different mentality in dense, highly populated East coast cities when it comes to handgun ownership. Most DC residents are against it and that's what counts, not outside opinions.

What is happening now is very disturbing, there seems to be a crime wave near the capitol and M street area that is preying on tourists and more well to do members of society, that's why it is in the news. However, other crimes continue in other parts of the city and in adjoining PG county, where crime has increased drastically in the last few years.

Long term solution- Invest in education, jobs and affordable housing.

[Scott & Lai 12]

You realize that Washington DC has an outright ban on handguns yet, practically, the highest crimerate. Gun control anyone? LET LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OWN GUNS THERE!!!!!!!!!

Now why do you want to go making the criminals job harder?

[Peter Miami 1]

wow!