Enhanced Security Measures Implemented for New Year's Eve in Times Square amidst Escalating Threats of Israel-Hamas Conflict
Authorities are intensifying security measures across the US for New Year's Eve, particularly in New York, due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict While there is no specific intelligence on threats, officials remain vigilant amidst concerns of lone-wolf attacks, compounded by potential protests
Law enforcement agencies in the US are focused on ensuring the security of New Year's revelers, especially in New York. The ongoing war in Gaza has raised concerns about potential lone-wolf attacks, although officials emphasize that there are no specific threats at this time. A joint threat assessment, involving 10 law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the New York Police Department, has identified a heightened threat environment due to the Israel-Hamas war.
The assessment obtained by CNN states that the Intelligence Community continues to be worried about
lone offenders using online platforms to express threats of violence against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, as well as carrying out simple, unsophisticated attacks that are hard to detect in advance.
The United Nations Security Council voted on a resolution on Friday, calling for the establishment of humanitarian corridors throughout Gaza. The vote took place during a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York. (Photo credit: David Dee Delgado/Reuters)
The UN Security Council has approved a compromise resolution on the Israel-Hamas war as the US decides to abstain from voting.
In New York, the FBI and the police department will be closely monitoring for potential threats on Sunday, particularly around Times Square where a large command center and enhanced security perimeter are in place. This is in anticipation of the New Year's Eve countdown, which is expected to be the highest profile celebration worldwide with an estimated audience of 1 billion. Officials are also keeping an eye out for any demonstrations related to the violence in Gaza.
Despite being most prominent around the holidays, the concerns are not new. Law enforcement has been especially vigilant across the United States since the October 7th attack by Hamas and the intensification of Israel's siege of Gaza. According to CNN, a threat assessment emphasized a series of false bomb threats against synagogues earlier this month and the shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont last month, as potential cases tied to the Middle East conflict.
A recent lone wolf-style attack in Times Square on New Year's Eve serves as a nearby example. Last year, a 19-year-old, described as a "homegrown violent extremist" radicalized by online propaganda, allegedly attacked three officers at a security checkpoint and was shot by police. He has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial, according to FBI official Robert Kissane.
Photo of Hisham Awartani, one of three Palestinian students shot in Vermont, with his mother, Elizabeth Price.
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Large, live televised events continue to be a prime target for foreign terrorist organizations and domestic violent extremists, according to the assessment. The interview with Kissane on CNN revealed that a heightened threat environment has been in place since October 7, with officials from various partner agencies working in a command center to monitor and investigate potential threats.
On the day Hamas fighters crossed Israel's border, resulting in 1,200 casualties and dozens of hostages, Kissane, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division at its New York Field Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, described it as a "flashpoint," and revealed that the ongoing conflict has been a motivation for people to engage in wrongful acts. Despite this, he emphasized that New York frequently hosts large events and highlighted the effective collaboration between the New York Police Department, the FBI, and their partners.
Kissane argued that there is no better place in the world to hold an event like the New Year's Eve ball drop, stressing that there is currently no specific and credible threat to this weekend's Times Square event.
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New York City boosts police presence amid tensions
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Protests present added concern, officials say
In response to last year's attack, authorities have increased the security perimeter around Times Square, with Chief of Patrol John Chell stating that this is to prevent cars from entering nearby major streets, allowing the police to respond quickly to any emergencies. Various tools and technologies, such as cameras, a specially equipped police helicopter, drones, police countersniper teams in skyscrapers, and bomb detection dogs capable of detecting explosives from 100 feet away even in a crowded area, will be utilized.
Concerns have also been raised by officials regarding possible protests linked to the conflict in Gaza. The assessment highlights the potential for these demonstrations to interfere with "critical infrastructure" or important events, and also acknowledges the possibility of officials themselves becoming targets.
Ken Dorph, 70, took part in local celebrations in a Santa Claus outfit and later spoke in an exclusive interview in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, on December 19, 2023. He was removed from his beloved Santa Claus role for criticizing Israel.
I criticized the war in Gaza and as a result, I lost my job as a Santa Claus. In recent months, there have been demonstrations leading to clashes with police as protesters speak out against the rising civilian death toll in Gaza. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, more than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. On Christmas Day, six people were arrested in New York during a pro-Palestinian demonstration after clashes with police officers.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed added concern on Tuesday due to the recent protests, suggesting that there may be attempts to disrupt the upcoming Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. According to Chell, of the New York Police Department, there have been over 1,000 protests in the city since October 7, and the department anticipates protesters at the New Years Eve celebrations, similar to those seen at the Rockefeller tree lighting and Thanksgiving Day parade.
"It's a huge operation that we spend the whole year preparing for," Chell commented on New Year's Eve in Times Square. "We're dealing with 1.2 million spectators in a tightly packed area... The whole world is watching us. We have a tremendous responsibility to ensure everyone's safety, to keep New Yorkers in high spirits, and to safeguard the entire community."
This story is ongoing and will be continually updated.
CNNs John Miller reported and wrote this story from Los Angeles; Nicki Brown and Dakin Andone reported and wrote in New York. CNNs Mark Morales and Zenebou Sylla contributed to this report.
