New York officials confirmed on Thursday the release of an ISIS propaganda video that threatens attacks on New York. New York City officials have not verified the authenticity of the tape but say there are not any specific threats against the city. The video shows clips of Herald and Times Square as well suicide bombers getting ready for an attack. ISIS terrorists place the United States at the top of its enemy list. The release of the video comes as security increased across all major U.S. cities following last week’s string of terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 129.
New York Police Commissioner William Bratton said at a late-night press conference that the video is “a mish-mosh” of old ISIS propoganda videos and that there is no blatant new threat. He stressed that the police force is continually monitoring all possible terrorist threats but have not received any new information that indicates an imminent threat. The New York City Police Department said it was aware of the video and was deploying additional members of its new anti-terrorism squad out of an abundance of caution. The NYPD released a statement reassuring New York that they will continue to work to keep New York safe.
While some of the video footage is not new, the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target,” While there is no current or specific threat to the city at this time, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance and will continue to work with the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the entire intelligence community to keep the city of New York safe.”
The Islamic State also released a video threatening to attack Washington, D.C., in the wake of the Paris attacks. Authorities in the U.S. capital said they were stepping up security. The FBI said there was “no specific or credible threat to the United States.” Mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to go about their normal lives.
The people of New York City will not be intimidated,” “We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes.”
ISIS first drew international attention for taking over swaths of Iraq and Syria, leaving a trail of violence and destruction in its wake. Its efforts to bring terror to the global stage seem to be growing. This month alone, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, the downing of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt and a pair of suicide bombings in Beirut. The video’s release came just before the city goes into full holiday mode, with next week’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by the Christmas tree lighting in Rockefeller Center on Dec. 2. These and other events attract tens of millions of visitors each year.
