sailingaway
12-31-2012, 01:45 PM
In fear of potential terrorist attacks, the New York Police Department will assign thousands of extra patrol officers to monitor and control the crowd gathering to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square.
To ring in the New Year, hundreds of thousands of people will crowd into Manhattan to watch the crystal ball drop at midnight. Up to a million people are expected to attend. But since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security around the event has been increasing to a level that some consider an ‘obsession’.
“There will be an enormous number of police officers, including most of our new class of 1,200 police officers that we swore in last week,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “There will be an awful lot of police there in plainclothes. That person standing next to you may very well be a cop.”
There are currently no specific terror threats facing the annual festivities, but Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told the Associated Press that Times Square is always on a potential terrorist’s radar and is therefore taking serious precautions.
Each year, police step up their security to guard against any potential attacks. Searching for suspects, they are instructed to closely watch anyone they consider ‘suspicious’.
“We ask them to monitor people coming into the hotels very closely,” Kelly said. The NYPD believes a potential terrorist could easily launch a sniper attack from the privacy of a hotel room overlooking Times Square. As a result, the police have urged hotel managers to be on the lookout for anyone they suspect might have malignant intentions.
Additionally, police are starting to patrol Times Square much earlier than usual. Since thousands of people flock to Midtown Manhattan long before midnight, authorities are now beginning their shifts during the daytime.
To keep the crowds under control, police are also using barriers to prevent overcrowding and are banning alcohol, large handbags and backpacks.
More at EndtheLie.com - http://EndtheLie.com/2012/12/31/police-tighten-security-in-times-square-considering-it-possible-terrorist-target/#ixzz2GerUaG39
Right up until I saw you wouldn't be allowed booze on New Year's eve, I figured it wouldn't impact the crowds...
To ring in the New Year, hundreds of thousands of people will crowd into Manhattan to watch the crystal ball drop at midnight. Up to a million people are expected to attend. But since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, security around the event has been increasing to a level that some consider an ‘obsession’.
“There will be an enormous number of police officers, including most of our new class of 1,200 police officers that we swore in last week,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “There will be an awful lot of police there in plainclothes. That person standing next to you may very well be a cop.”
There are currently no specific terror threats facing the annual festivities, but Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told the Associated Press that Times Square is always on a potential terrorist’s radar and is therefore taking serious precautions.
Each year, police step up their security to guard against any potential attacks. Searching for suspects, they are instructed to closely watch anyone they consider ‘suspicious’.
“We ask them to monitor people coming into the hotels very closely,” Kelly said. The NYPD believes a potential terrorist could easily launch a sniper attack from the privacy of a hotel room overlooking Times Square. As a result, the police have urged hotel managers to be on the lookout for anyone they suspect might have malignant intentions.
Additionally, police are starting to patrol Times Square much earlier than usual. Since thousands of people flock to Midtown Manhattan long before midnight, authorities are now beginning their shifts during the daytime.
To keep the crowds under control, police are also using barriers to prevent overcrowding and are banning alcohol, large handbags and backpacks.
More at EndtheLie.com - http://EndtheLie.com/2012/12/31/police-tighten-security-in-times-square-considering-it-possible-terrorist-target/#ixzz2GerUaG39
Right up until I saw you wouldn't be allowed booze on New Year's eve, I figured it wouldn't impact the crowds...