Security ramped up at French Consulate, across New York City after Nice attack
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A noticeable police presence remained outside the French Consulate in New York City Friday in the wake of the terror attack in Nice, while NYPD officers and K-9 units are positioned across from the Fifth Avenue building.
"The NYPD is monitoring the developments in Nice," police said in a statement Friday. "As of now, there are no specific credible threats to New York City. We will monitor and deploy our personnel as needed. Once again, we ask the public to be vigilant, and if you see something, say something."
The consulate was hosting its annual Bastille Day celebration Thursday as the terror attack was unfolding in its homeland. It quickly turned into a somber occasion. Along Fifth Avenue Friday, many felt the need to stop, say a prayer, take a moment even lay down flowers outside the consulate and at Albertine, the French book shop and cultural center just a few blocks away. And while flowers and flags won't undo violence or end hatred they say doing nothing feels worse.
"I don't know, I'm here on vacation," tourist Riff Wright said. "I just felt compelled to let the French people know that we're in this together."
The heightened security is throughout the city, but special attention is being give to heavy pedestrian areas like Herald Square.
"High-crowd, high-density areas like Times Square, Herald Square, to add a more visible tactical police presence," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism John Miller said. "Our counter-terrorism critical response team was dispatched to symbolic locations and potential targets while we continue to examine the threat stream."
The NYPD began seeking deeper intelligence to protect sites in the city after the attack, with in the department's intelligence bureau following any tips or leads.
"We follow leads that we find on the internet," Bureau Chief Thomas Galati said. We follow leads when people come forward and indicate there is suspicious activity."
Police Commissioner William Bratton is also reaching out on social media, with prayers to Nice and other cities hit by recent killings and a message to this city, where he stressed there is no credible threat. But police will be out and vigilant to keep the city safe, especially during a very busy weekend.
"More than adequate, patrol uniform and plain clothes, intelligence and counter-terrorism resources in the city at various events," he said.
The critical response command and other counter-terrorism units are on continuous patrol, and their visibility is being noticed.
