“While there is no specific articulable threat to the city at this time, the Federal Bureau of Investigation NY JTTF continues to vigilantly work with NYPD”.
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There is no “specific and credible threat” against NY City, despite a newly released Islamic State video suggesting America’s most populous city is a potential target of attacks such as those in Paris, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday.
The video then cuts to a militant donning a bomb vest mixed with footage of flashing billboards and yellow taxi cabs.
NY City Police Commissioner William Bratton said the video appears to be “hastily produced, it is a mishmash of previously released video” that includes parts of other previously released videos that threatened Germany and Israel.
Earlier this week, French President Francois Hollande called on the United States and Russian Federation to join a global coalition to destroy Islamic State.
“Remember that the terrorists’ goal is to let fear win – New Yorkers never have, and we never will”, he said.
The images of NY City were published in April, and officials said the threats are not new.
De Blasio praised the NYPD as the most capable police force in the country, “with a robust counterterrorism operation that was just strengthened with an investment of 500 additional officers”.
Police presence has been beefed up across NY City since Friday’s attack in Paris, particularly in crowded areas like Grand Central terminal, theaters and stores.
“In NY we understand that we are a terrorist target”, Bratton said.
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According to NBC NY, the video does not specifically focus on Times Square, but New York’s iconic tourist hub as well as Manhattan’s Herald Square are depicted in the video.
