If the public has any concerns about a terrorist attack against the Super Bowl and related festivities, law enforcement officials are trying to calm those fears. NY1′s Dean Meminger filed the following report.
Local and national law enforcement agencies are saying don’t worry, just have fun at the Super Bowl.
“Of this time, there are no threats directed against this event that we’re aware of,” said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.
However, officers are keeping their eyes and ears open and asking the public to report any suspicious activity, especially after last month’s two deadly bombings in Russia.
“Of particular concern to us is what was going on overseas in Volgograd in relation to the Sochi Olympics,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes of the New Jersey State Police. “As you know, both of those bombings target mass transit.”
So expect to see security sweeps on buses and trains headed to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
In Manhattan, along Broadway for the Super Bowl Boulevard, fans are able to come and go as they please, unlike much tighter security during the New Year’s Eve ball drop, but police will be watching.
“You will see extensive uniformed presence, members of the NYPD who here both for security as well as assistance,” Bratton said.
On the federal level, the FBI and Homeland Security have beefed up their efforts to compliment New York and New Jersey police.
“With the FBI, we are more behind the scenes, our counterterrorism efforts, our intelligence efforts,” said George Venizelos, assistant director of the FBI in charge of the field office. “And I can assure the public that the relationships and the operations here are
Quite often, when multiple law enforcement agencies work together, there is a clash over which agency actually has the most power, but those securing the Super Bowl say that is not the case here. They say they all have the same goal of making sure people are safe while having plenty of fun.
The NFL has hired at least 4,000 private security officers to help out. At the stadium, fans will be screened airport-style, and only small, clear bags will be allowed in.
“You don’t want to be over-confident,” said Jeffrey Miller, the NFL’s chief security officer. “You want to prepare and be ready, because you just don’t know what you might face on game days.”
Law enforcement officials say they’re hoping that the only action will occur on the field.
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