New York City police are on high alert ahead of Sunday’s annual Israel Day parade, which is being held nearly eight months after Hamas attacks on southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials held a press conference Friday to discuss security preparations for the parade. This year’s theme is “Bring the Hostages Home,” a reminder that more than 120 hostages remain held in the city after the Oct. 7 attacks.
“This is the first large scale Jewish event since October 7th, and we are very conscious of the more than 3,000 protests that have taken place in the city since that day,” Mayor Adams said Friday.
An NYPD threat assessment warned that “extremists and disaffected bad actors from a range of ideological backgrounds” could attack Sunday’s event, according to the New York Daily News.
Radical New York City teachers group backs high school student walkout during anti-Israel protests
Participants dance during a parade celebrating Israel in New York City on Sunday, June 2, 2019. New York City’s annual packed Israel Parade kicks off Sunday under heavy security. (AP Photo/Craig Rattle, File)
According to the New York City Mayor’s Office, approximately 2,800 protests have taken place in New York City since October 7, of which approximately 1,300 were related to the Middle East war.
Police Commissioner Edward Cavan said there would be an increased police presence in areas along the parade route, “including control points at entry points as well as cycle teams, air squads, police dogs, traffic units and other specialist units.”
Officers from the NYPD’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Bureau will also be deployed, Cabán said, adding that there is “no specific or credible threat to the parade or to New York City as a whole.”
“For 60 years, people from all over the world have flocked to New York to celebrate our city’s proud Jewish heritage. Sunday’s parade is the largest celebration outside of Israel, and the NYPD will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly,” Cavan said. “The eyes and ears of New York play a vital role in protecting our city, so if you see something that doesn’t seem right, please let an officer know.”
NYPD Commissioner Jeffrey Madley said the increased security measures will include increased police presence and the deployment of special operations and counterterrorism units on Fifth Avenue on the day of the Israel Day Parade. The NYPD’s aviation unit will be flying drones, and police dog and mounted units will be active in and around Central Park on Sunday, he said.
On May 31, 2024, NYPD officers intervened and arrested several anti-Israel protesters in Brooklyn. Hundreds of protesters occupied part of the Brooklyn Museum and hung a huge banner at the museum’s gates. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“The parade route has been reinforced. The parade route is 18 blocks from 56th Street to 74th Street, the route has been reinforced. Additional fencing has been put up there for added security,” he said.
Netanyahu denies Biden ceasefire proposal: ‘meaningless’ unless all conditions are met
The parade, now known as the “5th Anniversary of the State of Israel” Parade, has been held for nearly 60 years and was previously called the “Salute to Israel Parade” and the “Celebrate Israel Parade.” This year’s event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. and is expected to attract more than 40,000 participants, including Israeli dignitaries, celebrities and family members of the hostages.
Spectators can enter the parade route from five access points on Madison Avenue: 61st Street, 63rd Street, 66th Street, 70th Street and 73rd Street.
Madeley said all entering spectators will be screened with magnetic detectors by School Safety Division or School Safety Officers and the NYPD’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, and participants must have proper identification issued by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) before stepping foot on the parade route.
“These security measures are a little bit stronger than last year, but this is nothing new, it’s just a scaled-down version of what we do,” Madeley said. “These are security measures we’ve implemented in the past, whether it’s for New Year’s Eve, the Fourth of July, Jo’Vert celebrations, etc. It’s all about the safety of our community, our participants and spectators.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference ahead of the Israel Day parade in Manhattan to discuss security preparations. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriye, File)
The parade in New York City coincides with the start of a cricket match on Long Island, which sparked safety concerns last week after an ISIS-related terror threat circulated online about the match.
Citing the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, New York University and City College in New York City, Adams said there are “outside agitators who play a major role in a lot of these events” and that they often “see it as an opportunity to infiltrate these large gatherings and cause chaos.”
“Any inappropriate behavior that goes beyond peaceful protest or voicing concerns will be addressed swiftly,” Adams said.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said multiple ARGUS cameras will be installed along the parade route and drones will be strategically placed along the parade route and perimeter.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“The drones will be looking for groups that may come to disrupt the parade,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
