New York City law enforcement officials say there is no credible threat against the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade despite online extremists describing the event as a valuable target.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that police officials have received no information to indicate a credible threat targeting Thursday’s parade, which draws thousands of tourists to the city’s streets every year.
An Islamic State English-language post last year described the parade as an “excellent target,” the AP reports.
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New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill told the AP that the city will never accept terror attacks as inevitable despite deadly mass shootings in Las Vegas and other areas of the country this year.
Eight people also died in an attack in New York City earlier this month. Sayfullo Saipol has been indicted on murder and terrorism charges after allegedly driving a truck through a bicycle path.
“We had a couple of tough months as a nation,” O’Neill said. “We won’t ever accept such acts of hate and cowardice as inevitable in our society.”
“I want to assure the people that we swore to protect that anytime something happens anywhere in the world, the NYPD works with our law enforcement partners and studies it and we learn from it and it informs our decision making going forward,” he added.
Authorities are ramping up the city’s police presence for this year’s parade, which will include sharpshooters on city roofs and increased ground patrols. But police officials are also counting on citizens to “say something” if they notice suspicious activity.
“There will be a cop on every block,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Terence Monahan told the AP. “Go to that cop and say something.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio added in a statement to the AP that New Yorkers remain resilient in the face of terror threats.
“We said right away New York’s response is to remain strong and resilient,” de Blasio said. “We do not back down in the face of terror threats. The city is filled with resolve.”