Law enforcement urges revelers to be vigilant during Independence Day

World Today

Law enforcement urges revelers to be vigilant during Independence Day2

Law enforcement authorities in Washington, D.C. say there’s no specific known threat against the U.S. capital. Still, they are urging holiday revelers to be vigilant.

CCTV America’s Roee Ruttenberg reported from Washington, DC.

Law enforcement urges revelers to be vigilant during Independence Day

Law enforcement authorities in Washington, D.C. say there’s no specific known threat against the U.S. capital. Still, they are urging holiday revelers to be vigilant.

The city’s near 4000 strong police department was out in full force on Monday on streets, in intersections, and at the nation’s famous monuments. Soft targets, they fear that could easily become targets for would-be terrorists.

“There’s always some changes that we make in what it is we do based on events around the globe quite frankly,” Cathy Lanier, the Washington, D.C. Police Chief said. “But we have a pretty tight security plan for the 4th of July with our partners.”

Police say crowds hoping to watch the official festivities will have to pass through security checkpoints across the city.

It’s a similar scene in New York where for the first time, a so-called Critical Response team of more than 500 officers was deployed to the streets, in addition to regular duty officers.

“We are very, very vigilant. We have exceptional NYPD presence to keep everyone safe,” Bill de Blasio, New York City mayor said. “It sends a powerful message to anyone who might try and disrupt. that we are ready to dispute that.”

Nerves were already rattled over the weekend, after a “home-made explosive device”, perhaps a firecracker, accidentally detonated in the city’s main park, injuring one man.

In Boston, extra police were monitoring surveillance cameras in this control room. In Miami, the Coast Guard was keeping watch in the waters. And in Los Angeles, at the airport, a visible increase in police and, police dogs, sniffing for any sign of trouble.