Photo by Karon.

DCist Flickr photo pool contributor Karon spotted this interesting looking advertisement inside the Court House Metro station recently. “The wmata “see something, say something” ads are getting strange,” Karon noted.

The ads are actually funded by the Department of Homeland Security, and are part of a new ad campaign which prominently feature three-dimensional elephants and canisters of explosives outfitted with Groucho Marx masks. The ad campaign — called Secure Transit — also provides riders with the “eight signs of terrorism” and how to spot someone who might be casing a station. (Thankfully, “taking photographs” is not on the list — though ” videotaping, sketching or taking notes on transit equipment and facilities or security equipment” is.)

Of course, the nature of the ads themselves are sure to provide fodder for plenty a daily commuter. “There is an ‘elephant in the room’ joke to be made here about what the real dangers are in the WMATA system,” Karon added.