NYC, NJ Stays Alert as Precaution; Mayor Rides Subway

Wednesday, April 17, 2013 12:20 am | 3 Minute Read

Port Authority Police from the Emergency Service Unit patrol the area at the Hoboken Terminal. Extra security measures were taken during the evening rush after the explosions at the Boston Marathon, Monday. (AP Photo/The Record, Kevin R. Wexler)

Extra patrol cars and police armed with rifles were stationed around the city Tuesday as New York maintained a heightened state of alert until more is known about the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

The major focuses include landmark locations such as the Empire State Building and World Trade Center site. Subways and commuter rails are also getting an extra dose of protection. Mayor Michael Bloomberg — and his security detail — took the subway on Tuesday to show that it’s safe.

Around the financial district, the security measures looked the same as they always do, but Bloomberg noted Monday that some of the steps will be noticeable — and others will not be. Security was tight at the World Trade Center site.

There have been no reports of any specific threats against the city.

Police have responded already to more than 70 reports of suspicious packages, up from about 21 for the same period last year. They were all unfounded. In addition, the main terminal at La Guardia airport was briefly evacuated Tuesday morning after someone reported suspicious wires on the ceiling that turned out to be a light fixture.

“We prepared for that, we increased our emergency services officers on patrol,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

Police take into account events in other cities when responding to security threats, which is why security was also beefed up at hotels, but police officials would not divulge more specific details.

There were events this weekend — a 5K run/walk to the Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum Sunday, plus a four-mile race in Central Park.

“We are certainly re-evaluating them in light of the event that took place yesterday,” Kelly said.

In terms of size, there is no comparable event to the Boston Marathon in New York until the Five Boro Bike Tour on May 5, which draws considerably fewer people to the city than the annual marathon, canceled in November due to Superstorm Sandy.

More than a thousand counterterrorism officers were assigned to protect the city, as well as increased patrols.

Nassau County Police on New York’s Long Island also have their patrol officers on high alert as a precaution.

In a related story, service has resumed on the Newark subway after a suspicious package was found near the subway’s entrance in Newark’s Penn Station. NJ Transit spokesman John Durso Jr. says service was suspended for about an hour while a suspicious package was checked. Durso says it tested negative for explosives and was removed for additional testing. Penn Station remained open and was operational.

Durso also says the mass transit agency has seen a slight increase in calls to its 888-TIPS-NJT tip line in the last 24 hours. Durso says most were from people testing the number or adding it to their contact lists.

The Port Authority also is on a heightened state of alert.