New York beefs up July 4 weekend security
New York is stepping up monitoring of July 4 celebrations, a move made in direct response to federal authorities issuing a terror warning last week to law enforcement officials throughout the USA.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Friday that he's ordering additional staff for the state's Emergency Operations Center and New York State Watch Center. The governor asked the public to be cautious of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to authorities.
"We are keenly aware that New York state remains a top target for terrorists," Cuomo said.
Cuomo's decision to bolster the state's security plan comes the day after a false alarm of a shooter at the Navy Yard in Washington brought a rapid and massive response from police.
Even after the Navy Yard threat proved to be a false alarm, Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier said she thought it was better to act than not, emphasizing that authorities mean it when they encourage people to "see something, say something."
Police departments throughout the country are demonstrating extra vigilance after the Department of Homeland Security and FBI issued a bulletin last week warning of attack threats by the Islamic State and other extremist groups. The bulletin did not detail any specific threat.
Meanwhile, the State Department confirmed on Friday that it had reminded U.S. officials posted at embassies and consulates worldwide to review their security posture and procedures ahead of the July 4 week. State Department spokesman John Kirby said that the security request was issued several weeks ago and described it as a routine procedure that it is done at posts before all major holidays. He added that it was "not indicative of any specific security threat."
The bulletin sent out by the DHS and FBI is similar to those frequently sent out before major U.S. holidays as a precaution.
Rep. Pete King, a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, told Newsday, "This is the highest level of concern since 9/11" and called on Americans to keep their eyes open.
The New York Republican said he was not aware of any "specific threat against any particular part of the country," but he noted that recent terror attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait linked to the Islamic State, combined with a series of local arrests of suspected terrorists, signal a cause for alarm.
In New York City, the police will deploy "in excess of 7,000" officers in addition to those patrolling the rest of the city, John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, told CBS' This Morning. He called the operation one of their biggest.
In Washington, where tens of thousands of people are expected at the National Mall for one of the largest fireworks displays in the country, special police patrols will keep an eye on potential targets such as landmarks, financial institutions, houses of worship, hotels and theaters.
Additional plainclothes officers, radiation detection units, bomb-sniffing canines and surveillance aircraft will be deployed.
In Los Angeles, police declined to provide details of additional security steps, but a spokeswoman, Officer Liliana Preciado, said the department is prepared for any threat. "We do have enough resources available, and we will have enough officers out there," Preciado said.
In Boston, the city plans to increase the number of officers on duty to provide security and crowd control, said Officer Rachel McGuire, a department spokeswoman.
Authorities have banned drones from the area for July 3 and 4, saying they cause undue concern, boston.com reports.
July 4 celebrations for personnel at Britain's largest U.S. Air Force base were canceled amid the heightened fears of a terrorist attack, NBC News reported.
The event is typically attended by thousands of servicemembers with the 48th Fighter Wing.