ISIS video warns of NY City attacks

NY:New York police said Wednesday they were aware of a new Islamic State video targeting the city but stressed there was “no current or specific threat”.

In this photo provided by WNYW Fox 5 NY, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a news conference in New York’s Times Square, Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has released a new video that hints at a potential terrorist threat to NY City.

De Blasio said NY City’s police force of 35,000, the country’s largest, was working tirelessly to keep the city safe from another attack.

Mr de Blasio said the first wave of the NYPD Critical Response Command had been initiated this week, which will grow to 500 police officers dedicated to anti-terrorism activities. “We will not be intimidated, and we will not live in fear”.

The new ISIS propaganda shows footage of NY City’s famed Times and Herald Squares, interspersed with footage of French President François Hollande addressing France after the attacks. “Be aware but don’t be afraid. We work tirelessly to ensure that, continuously upgrading our capabilities and our systems”, Bratton said.

The 26-second video, a copy of which can be found on YouTube, shows a number of scenes from Manhattan such as Times Square, a Gap store in Herald Square, T.G.I. So we are sending a very powerful message that NY City is ready.

“In NY we understand that we are a terrorist target”, Bratton said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that from the ISIS video, they surmised that the terrorists intend to strike at St. Peter’s Basilica and other historical monuments in Rome and Milan.

Following a string of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13 that left 129 dead and 352 wounded, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed state agencies to “enhance their preparedness”.

“We can not be intimidated, and that’s what terrorists seek to do”, said NY City Police Commissioner William Bratton.

NY City officials confirmed Thursday that the terror group has indeed threatened to wreak havoc there, but said they have yet to track any viable threat. The group also specifically mentioned the famous Times Square where the annual ball drop is regularly held.