Authorities issue terror alert as US marks Independence Day
Americans worry over security, shark attacks, wildfires
NEW YORK: The United States is ramping up security across the country and urging people to stay alert over the Independence Day holiday weekend over fears of a terrorist threat. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center have all warned of an increased risk of attacks during the long Fourth of July weekend. New York State is ratcheting up its monitoring of celebrations and events which is expected to draw large crowds to America’s biggest city.
“We are keenly aware that New York State remains a top target for terrorists,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “As we celebrate with family and friends this Independence Day, I urge all New Yorkers to not only remember the freedoms that we hold dear, but also remain cautious of their surroundings and learn to recognize and report suspicious activity.” Other major cities, including the capital Washington, were also on heightened guard, although there were not thought to be any specific threats. “Our nation is under threat, our law enforcement, our military are under threat, so we take the threat seriously,” ABC News quoted US Park Police Chief Robert MacLean as saying.
In Boston, scene of an attack on the city’s marathon in 2013 that killed three and left scores wounded, police said security would be high. “We’re just stepping it up to make sure it can be as safe as possible,” Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told The Boston Globe. A lone-wolf attack would be the “worst nightmare,” he said, adding police were not aware of any specific threats. US authorities will also be on their guard abroad. The State Department had “reminded our posts to review their security posture and procedures,” spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. “The reminder issued by the State Department is routine, done before all major holidays, and is not indicative of any specific security threat,” he added. — AFP
Millions of Americans readied yesterday for Independence Day parades and firework shows amid worries over possible security threats, a spike in shark attacks on East Coast beaches and the danger of wildfires in the West. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued an alert asking local authorities and the public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent calls for violence by Islamic State leaders.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered increased monitoring statewide for the holiday weekend under the direction of the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. In New York City, the nation’s biggest police force assigned about 7,000 officers and nearly all its counterterrorism personnel to handle security around Independence Day events. “We’re constantly seeking to be creative, to be proactive and not just be preparing to respond if something happens,” New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said this week. “The name of the game is to prevent it.”
Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to flood the National Mall in Washington, DC, for a parade, concerts, and a fireworks display that uses 6,500 shells. The National Park Service is installing 3 5.47 km of chain link fencing, 4,270 m of bike racks and almost 350 portable toilets to cope with the crowds.
Washington was shaken on Thursday by an unfounded report of gunshots at the Navy Yard military base, a report that sparked a massive law enforcement response. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters police were in a heightened posture ahead of the holiday. “When we talk to our residents and visitors who want to celebrate Independence Day in the District of Columbia, it should be very clear to everybody that we take clear and credible threats or calls from our citizens and employees very, very seriously,” Lanier said.
On the US West Coast, which is already battling wildfires, communities in Washington state and Oregon restricted or banned fireworks out of fear that the dazzling displays of pyrotechnics would spark fresh blazes. Cupertino, California, and Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, canceled fireworks shows because of such concerns.
Revelers celebrating the holiday on the beaches of North Carolina, meanwhile, were warned by the National Park Service to use extra caution after an unprecedented surge in shark attacks. The seven attacks recorded in the state by midday Thursday have already surpassed the previous high of four in 2014, according to the International Shark Attack File. While the news will keep some people from venturing into the water, others won’t give up the surf, said shark file curator George Burgess. “There are those who have made their decision: ‘I don’t care. I’m going to go in the water no matter what,’” he said.
Celebrations in Texas feature country music legend Willie Nelson, and in Oklahoma, a watermelon seed spitting contest. Nelson’s all-day picnic, held this year at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack outside Austin, typically draws tens of thousands of people for a day of drinking, music and frequently an illegal substance often associated with the Texas musician.
Meanwhile in Oklahoma, the “Watermelon Seed Spittin’ World Championship” gets underway in Pauls Valley, about 100 km southeast of Oklahoma City. The record spit to beat is 66 feet, 11 inches (20.41 m), set in 1989 by Jack Dietz of Chicago, organizers said. — Reuters