By Christine Schiffner
NEW YORK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- New Yorkers' first response to the killing of Osama Bin Laden was emotional. But the mix of relief and spirit of celebration turned a bit more sober on Monday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg emphasized during a news conference held at Ground Zero that "as of now, there are no immediate threats against our city. However, there is no doubt we the remain a top target."
Similar to 2001 and the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, security has been stepped up again in New York. An increased number of police officers, some of them heavily armed, patrol the subway and train stations.
Commuters are subjected to more frequent checks of their bags. Emergency service vehicles are stationed at key places. Radiological detection equipment has been deployed, according to New York City police commissioner Ramondy Kelly who joined Mayor Bloomberg at the Ground Zero press conference.
National security experts share concerns of city officials. KT McFarland, a former aid to Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council points out, that heightened security is necessary. "I think in the near term, we probably will see an increase in terrorist activity: at the al-Qaida headquarters in Pakistan, they ' ve got to show to the world that they are still relevant."
In an interview with Xinhua she explained how the United States have become better in tracking email and money trails of suspected terrorists. However, the bigger threat lies in "that lone terrorist, the lone wolf, the guy who decides: I'm going to blow myself up, I'm going to rent a van, I'm going to pack it with explosives, I'm going to drive to Times Square and I'm going to set myself up."
President Obama established the position of a Cyber Security Czar in 2009 as a key player in the fight against terrorism. As part of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), the Obama administration has recruited technology experts and even hackers to track down information about terrorist movements. However, many alleged terrorists are "homegrown". They lead quiet lives, have average jobs, some of them are even naturalized U.S. citizens.
In October of 2010 Faisal Shazad, a Pakistan-born resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced to life in prison for trying to ignite a car bomb in the middle of Times Square. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had visited American universities.
In the afternoon Monday, police at Times Square had to alarm the bomb squad again. A suspicious package was found just a block away from the Big Apple. An hour later, and "all clear" was given. For now, it had been false alarm.
Editor: An
NEW YORK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- New Yorkers' first response to the killing of Osama Bin Laden was emotional. But the mix of relief and spirit of celebration turned a bit more sober on Monday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg emphasized during a news conference held at Ground Zero that "as of now, there are no immediate threats against our city. However, there is no doubt we the remain a top target."
Similar to 2001 and the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, security has been stepped up again in New York. An increased number of police officers, some of them heavily armed, patrol the subway and train stations.
Commuters are subjected to more frequent checks of their bags. Emergency service vehicles are stationed at key places. Radiological detection equipment has been deployed, according to New York City police commissioner Ramondy Kelly who joined Mayor Bloomberg at the Ground Zero press conference.
National security experts share concerns of city officials. KT McFarland, a former aid to Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council points out, that heightened security is necessary. "I think in the near term, we probably will see an increase in terrorist activity: at the al-Qaida headquarters in Pakistan, they ' ve got to show to the world that they are still relevant."
In an interview with Xinhua she explained how the United States have become better in tracking email and money trails of suspected terrorists. However, the bigger threat lies in "that lone terrorist, the lone wolf, the guy who decides: I'm going to blow myself up, I'm going to rent a van, I'm going to pack it with explosives, I'm going to drive to Times Square and I'm going to set myself up."
President Obama established the position of a Cyber Security Czar in 2009 as a key player in the fight against terrorism. As part of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), the Obama administration has recruited technology experts and even hackers to track down information about terrorist movements. However, many alleged terrorists are "homegrown". They lead quiet lives, have average jobs, some of them are even naturalized U.S. citizens.
In October of 2010 Faisal Shazad, a Pakistan-born resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced to life in prison for trying to ignite a car bomb in the middle of Times Square. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had visited American universities.
In the afternoon Monday, police at Times Square had to alarm the bomb squad again. A suspicious package was found just a block away from the Big Apple. An hour later, and "all clear" was given. For now, it had been false alarm.
Editor: An
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