New York City Terror Threat: After Paris Hostage Crisis, NYPD Increases Security

In the wake of violent terrorist attacks that claimed the lives roughly at least 149 people in Paris Friday night, the New York Police Department boosted security at high-profile locations. Officials emphasized that there was no credible threat against the United States, and that the bumped up security was being employed out of caution.

The NYPD released the following statement in response to the attacks in Paris:

The NYPD is in close touch with our French police counterparts as well as our FBI partners here, following the tragic events in Paris. Out of an abundance of caution, as part of an enhanced counterterrorism overlay the Counterterrorism Bureau has made the following deployments: the NYPD Counterterrorism Response Command (CRC) resources as well as the Critical Response Group (SRG), and Hercules Teams have been dispatched to crowded areas around the city out of an abundance of caution to provide police presence, and public reassurance as we follow the developing situation overseas. Specific deployments, at French government locations in New York City, were made immediately after the attacks.

NYPD Intelligence Bureau Detectives in France are conducting liaison activities to assist the Paris Police in any way possible, while keeping the NYPD updated on the on-going situation.

There is no known indication that the attack has any nexus to New York City. We will continue to follow events closely and adjust our deployments accordingly.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement after the violence in France Friday night, WLNY-TV reported. “The people of New York City are heartbroken to see our sister city of Paris shaken again by these thoughtless acts of violence, and we stand in solidarity with the residents of Paris and with Mayor Hidalgo during this tragic time,” the mayor said, WLNY-TV reported. “The victims of these horrific attacks, their families, and all the residents of Paris are in our hearts tonight. NYPD is in close contact with our international liaison in Paris and the local authorities and are closely monitoring the situation.”

A specially-trained unit of up to 350 officers in heavy gear had been assigned to both counterterrorism patrols and protests at high-risk areas of New York City, like Times Square, WABC reported. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also directed State police, the New York State Intelligence Center and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to actively watch for any implication from the attack. In addition, a senior law enforcement official also told WLNY-TV that the FBI was offering whatever help was needed to France and was meeting with French law enforcement.