Shortly after the scare in London yesterday, New York City’s Police Commissioner announced the NYPD will begin random searches of bags and packages carried by people entering city subways. Passengers carrying bags will allegedly be selected at random before they pass through turnstiles. Police officials say those who refuse to be searched won’t be allowed to ride. If an officer looking for explosives finds some other form of contraband, police said that person would be subject to arrest. The announcement drew immediate fire from civil liberties groups. The New York Civil Liberties Union said the searches violate basic rights. The group’s executive director, Donna Lieberman, said “The NYPD can and should investigate any suspicious activity, but the Fourth Amendment prohibits police from conducting searches where there is no suspicion of criminal activity.” Similar types of random searches of subway passengers have prompted criticism from civil liberties groups in other cities, and in some cases have been challenged in court.