New York City's Times Square's massive New Year's Eve party will have "a stronger police presence" than seen in recent years to protect against any terrorist attempt, police commissioner James O'Neil said Thursday.
The New York City Police Department head said no credible threat aimed at Times Square had been received, but that security was a prime issue.
"You'll see a stronger police presence out there that . . . seen in recent years," he said.
Video of his remarks was posted by Fox News.
Manhattan has been the target of two recent terror attacks — one that killed eight bicyclists on Halloween just blocks from the 9/11 terror strike, and a pipe bomb explosion in a subway walkway near the Times Square station in which the would-be suicide bomber and three others were injured.
For the New Year's Eve celebration, the NYPD, as it has done previously, will close some parking garages around the area, and, according to Fox News — mindful of the horrific Las Vegas shooting from a hotel window — there will be armed officers stationed at every single hotel surrounding Times Square.
Those entering the area of the celebration will be checked twice, one upon arrival, and a second time once they are moved behind a penned-in area, Fox News reported.
"People should expect to see an increase in security this New Year's because of an ongoing threat we've seen from ISIS," former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Matt Olsen told Christian Broadcasting Network.
"Really over the past few years they've sought to encourage their followers to carry out low-level attacks whereever they can, particularly targeting people where they gather in crowds," he explained.
According to CBN, one computer software tool the NYPD will be using is called Video Synopsis, which allows police to monitor real time hours of video in minutes, and can search for specific items as well.
Concrete barriers and sand trucks also will be stationed on the perimeter to prevent any vehicles from entering Times Square, Fox News noted.
Meanwhile, revelers will face one of the coldest ball drops on record, Accuweather reported. If the temperature at midnight is 14 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, it would be one of the top three lowest New Year's Eve midnight temperatures on record in New York City, and that appears likely, Accuweather reported.
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