Is The NYPD Under Threat From ISIS? Department Urges 'Heightened Vigilance' Amid Attacks Aimed At Police: Report

Following terrorist attacks aimed at police officers in both Paris and Philadelphia, the New York City Police Department announced that it is urging its officers to “exercise heightened vigilance,” WCBS-TV reported Friday. The NYPD cited that the two incidents “demonstrate the continued threat that members of service face from individuals seeking to target law enforcement personnel for a variety of reasons, including terrorist motivations.”

“The New York City Police Department strongly advises all members of service to exercise a high degree of vigilance and to employ proactive safety measures at all times. In particular, members of service should be aware that individuals plotting to carry out attacks may be armed and may decide to expedite an attack when engaged or confronted by law enforcement personnel,” the NYPD said in a message to its officers, WCBS-TV reported.

Early Friday morning, a gunman claiming to have pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants shot and seriously wounded a Philadelphia police officer in an ambush on his patrol car, Reuters reported. The gunman had fired 11 rounds, three off which hit the officer in his arm.

Also this week, a man sporting a fake explosives vest attempted to attack officers at a police station in Paris with a butcher knife. Police reportedly ordered him to back away, and when he failed to do so, they shot him to death. A piece of paper found on him offered allegiance to the leader of ISIS, saying his act "is linked to the deaths in Syria.”