What to Know
- An article in ISIS mentioned driving a truck into spectators at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, an attack similar to one carried out in France
- In response, the NYPD is boosting security even more; sanitation trucks will barricade the parade route and thousands of cops will attend
- The threat comes as a NYC man was arrested for allegedly trying to join ISIS and talking about driving a truck into people in Times Square
Police are busy securing the Thanksgiving day parade route after a recent article in an ISIS propoganda magazine called the nationally televised event an "excellent target."
The article mentioned an attack similar to the one in Nice, France, on July 14, when a terrorist drove a large truck through a crowd, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more.
The attack in Nice also inspired a Brooklyn father of three who was arrested by the FBI after talking about attacking Times Square, authorities say.
Mohamed Rafik Naji, 37, faces charges of providing material support for terrorism, according to court documents and law enforcement officials. The Yemen-born Brooklyn resident was arrested Monday.
Authorities said Naji allegedly traveled to Yemen in 2015 in an attempt to join ISIS, but returned after several months when he was unable to join the terrorist organization.
The NYPD has boosted security along the parade route in light of the ISIS article and the arrest of Naji.
Local
Barricades were already up and parking restrictions were in place Tuesday morning ahead of Thursday’s parade.
Eighty-one sanitation trucks, previously parked outside of Trump Tower to protect the president-elect, will line the parade route from 77th Street on the Upper West Side to 34th Street in midtown, where the parade ends. The trucks will also block certain intersections bordering the festivities.
During the parade, thousands of police officers will watch the route, along with police dogs that are trained to search for chemical weapons.
Despite the threats, New Yorkers and visitors to the city said that they have confidence in law enforcement to protect them.
“It’s the best city in the world. I understand that we have threats, but we have protection,” Clarence Tennell said.
Julie Spellman, who will watch her daughter perform in the parade, believes the city is up for the security challenge.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be here at the parade,” Spellman said. “I have complete faith in the NYPD to keep us safe.”
