fresh York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton are downplaying the significance of a fresh video from the self-proclaimed Islamic State that includes images of Times Square and Herald Square. De Blasio called the video "propaganda" designed to "blatantly intimidate" people.
But the video,as well as the nature of last week's terrorist attacks in Paris, present an entirely different set of challenges for the NYPD in protecting fresh Yorkers in wide open, or public gathering places across the city. The city has stepped up security at these so-called "soft targets" like transit hubs,shopping areas and other heavily-trafficked areas.
Former FBI special investigator and noted counter-terror expert Ali Soufan said that since 9/11, federal and local intelligence services acquire gained meaningful experience in coordinating security on all levels.
He told WNYC's Soterios Johnson that while law enforcement can't be everywhere at the same time, and they are acutely aware of the threat."From an intelligence perspective,these threats don't come out nowhere" Soufan said. "We acquire very vigilant citizens and the slogan, 'whether you see something, and say something,' can be very powerful in a situation like this."
Source: wnyc.org