NYPD announces security measures, street closures ahead of United Nations General Assembly
MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) -- Next week, more than 130 world leaders will meet on Manhattan's East Side for the United Nations General Assembly.
Officials are coming to the city for high-level meetings on issues impacting countries around the world.
Friday morning, the NYPD hosted a security briefing on the steps they and other law enforcement agencies are taking to protect these officials, including getting more control over unmanned drones in the sky.
The NYPD says they pose a serious safety threat to New Yorkers.
With recent attacks in the Middle East, the issue is becoming a real focus of the city's counter-terror planners.
As of now, only certain specialized teams of federal agents have the legal authority to take control of a suspicious drone, but the NYPD is looking to change that.
Officials are expected to continue lobbying in Washington, with hopes of eventually being able to get access to the devices.
"These are very different times," said Rebecca Weiner, NYPD deputy commissioner for counterterrorism, pointing to October 7 and the attempted assassinations of former President Donald Trump. "There will be surprises."
The NYPD said there have been about 4,000 protests since Oct. 7, and they are prepared for more next week with several hot-button issues expected to be discussed at UNGA like climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Hamas-Israel war.
At 9 a.m. Friday, families of hostages being held by Hamas are calling for their loved ones to be released, as the United States is trying to facilitate their release pushing for a ceasefire.
The NYPD wants the high-profile event to go off without a hitch.
"You've had two assassination attempts against former President Trump in the span of 65 days, you have your school shootings, you have all of your daily cadence of activity. Multiple wars overseas, one widening as we speak. And all of that can have a potential implication on New York City," said Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, NYPD Counterterrorism.
The NYPD will be dealing with two high level security details including President Joe Biden and former President Trump who has expressed interest in meeting with several world leaders.
President Biden is expected to address the United Nations on Tuesday. Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas are scheduled for Thursday.
"This is the largest annual gathering of world leaders on the planet," U.S. Secret Service's Pat Freeney said.
In terms of street closures, First Avenue will be shut down Saturday at 8 p.m. Other closures will follow in the days after.
Here's a full list of street closures starting at 5 a.m. Sunday and for the duration of the event:
1st Avenue from 34th Street to 51st Street
42nd Street 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue until 1900hrs
44th Street 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue
46th Street 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue
48th Street 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue
1st Ave north of 34th Street to 51st Street
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