After U.S., Israel strike Iran, NYPD steps up patrols at sensitive locations
The New York City Police Department says it will be stepping up patrols at sensitive locations throughout the city after the United States and Israel launched strikes against the Islamic regime in Iran early Saturday morning.
The NYPD made no mention of any specific threats toward the city, nor did it share specific locations where the enhanced security might be deployed.
"The NYPD is closely monitoring events in Iran and the Middle East and coordinating with our federal and international partners. As is our protocol and out of an abundance of caution, we will be enhancing patrols to sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites. As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and notify the NYPD of suspicious activity by calling 1-888-NYC-SAFE or 911," the NYPD posted on social media.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the New York State Police are also boosting their presence statewide "at religious, cultural and diplomatic sites."
She said "there are no credible threats at this time."
NYPD in "heightened threat environment"
Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism for the NYPD, said they've been in close contact with their partners over the last few weeks to prepare for a possible escalation.
"This is definitely an escalation. It's beyond what we saw in June," she said.
Weiner emphasized that whenever conflict escalates in the Middle East, the threat environment can shift quickly, even thousands of miles away.
"We've been in heightened threat environment since the hostilities commenced. This is obviously a large development, [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]'s purported death," she said. "As long as we're in a heightened threat, we're going to have enhanced deployments, patrol resources, specialized resources, the help of partners. And we're gonna see over the coming days how what's happening overseas impacts our city."
Some New Yorkers concerned about local impact
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tracks antisemitic incidents around the clock and has already intensified monitoring efforts in light of the latest developments.
"We're closely tracking antisemitism, conspiracy theories, extremist rhetoric, and we will, in the days to come, make sure that our communities are kept safe," said Scott Richman, with the ADL.
Meanwhile, Richman said the Jewish community is cautiously optimistic on the possible long-term outcome.
"They see this as a regime that is responsible for October 7th, as well as many, many other attacks against the state of Israel," he said. "That possibly this regime's leadership has been decapitated, all of that is perhaps good news for the Jewish community."
Some New Yorkers are concerned about the airstrikes.
"I'm instinctively worried whenever, you know, the United States, our country, starts bombing people," New Yorker Mike Lewin said, "but sometimes it works fine, and sometimes it doesn't."
"I'm horrified. There's no grounds for it," resident Sherry Fyman said.
A protest against the war in Times Square drew crowds Saturday afternoon.