Among the most significant threats facing the nation's largest Thanksgiving celebration "stems from lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence," according to the report put out by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and New York Police Department.
There is no "specific, actionable threat" but the document raises a particular concern about vehicle ramming, which "has become a recurring tactic employed by threat actors" looking to target crowded pedestrian areas. The NYPD will have sanitation trucks and other so-called "blocker vehicles" deployed along the route.
The 98th annual parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. on the Upper West Side and proceeds along a two-and-a-half mile route to Herald Square. The parade is expected to draw 2 million spectators and 10,000 participants.
RELATED | Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: Start time, balloons, performers and more
There are 17 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, 10 performance groups and Santa Claus. There are six new featured character balloons, including Disney's Minnie Mouse and Marvel's Spider-Man.
"Though the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade event will provide a broad set of potential soft targets for an attack, congested areas where the largest amount of people gather-particularly designated viewing areas-are likely the most vulnerable spots for a mass casualty attack," the assessment said.
After pro-Palestinian protesters glued their hands to the pavement along the parade route last year, law enforcement agencies said they "remain concerned that malicious actors may seek to engage in public safety disruptions, including attempting to block ingress and egress paths and roadways around the event and major transportation locations."
RELATED | Sneak peek of the new floats for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Sneak peek of the new floats for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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