The NYPD is currently looking into a bomb threat, raising security measures in vital areas of the city as the 9/11 anniversary approaches, alongside the UN General Assembly and the Jewish High Holidays.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tish noted that there’s a “general increase” in threats during this particularly busy time in September, and the department is taking some extra precautions this year.
High-ranking officials commented on the need to keep a close watch on the city’s critical infrastructure, particularly the bridges and tunnels that connect Queens to Manhattan.
Informants indicated that these critical transit points have been flagged as potential targets for certain groups of unidentified assailants.
Sources have mentioned that this ambiguous threat came onto the NYPD and FBI’s radar, marking the connections between Manhattan and Queens as possible sites for an unspecified terror act.
There are suggestions that the perpetrators may have links to Iran, although specific details about the timing or method of a potential attack remain unclear.
A spokesperson for the NYPD remarked that these threats are vague and largely unsubstantiated but still warrant concern among higher-ups.
“We take every threat seriously. As we look further into this, we’re collaborating with federal agencies through the Joint Terrorism Task Force. With our heightened resources, a rise in police presence at critical infrastructure sites can be expected,” Tish stated.
Increased security measures come on the heels of the recent surge in violent incidents across the city.
In July, gunmen opened fire in a Park Avenue office building that housed the NFL headquarters and other companies, resulting in four fatalities—the deadliest shooting New York has seen in the last quarter-century.
The shooter, Shane Tamra, targeted the building’s executives over mental health concerns but inadvertently ended up in the wrong area, leading to a tragic encounter where he killed a young Cornell graduate.
Furthermore, Times Square was evacuated last month after a suspicious package was found near a small NYPD station, with a suspect arrested and evaluated for mental health issues.
Additionally, the Icefield Office Building experienced an evacuation when five envelopes containing white powder were discovered in the mail room, later identified as boric acid.
