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US police raising their guard for Thanksgiving
感恩節美國警方加強警戒
In the United States, the annual Thanksgiving holiday is an opportunity for family and friends to get together. But as millions of Americans board planes and hit the road, there are renewed concerns of terror threats.
"Right now, we know of no specific and credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland," Obama said.
This latest assurance from the U.S. president comes as Americans prepare to celebrate the annual Thanksgiving holiday, in the wake of the Paris attacks and fresh ISIL threats.
"In the event of a specific, credible threat, the public will be informed. We do think it is useful for people as they are going about their business to be vigilant," Obama said.
In Manhattan, more than three million people are expected to attend the massive Macy's Thanksgiving parade, and security forces here are not taking any chances.
Police, firefighters and other first responders have been conducting drills to prepare for different scenarios.
"How do you get in and assess, are you dealing with an active shooter, multiple shooters Is there the potential threat, as we saw in Paris, of a suicide bomber.Is there also the threat, not certainly of the suicide bomber but devices that may be planted by the terrorists. We are constantly trying to learn the creativity," New York City Police chief William Bratton said.
And in a city where uniformed policemen are already very visible, another 1,300 officers from counter-terrorism-related units will be deployed. Police visibility is in itself a deterrent against attacks, says security expert Robert McCrie, because they make soft or easy targets harder to reach.
"We have plenty of iconic buildings and places of public assembly that could conceivably interest terrorists and when the security is there, they no longer represent a soft target, they are too tough for the terrorists," Robert McCrie with John Jay College of Criminal Justice said.
And for many New Yorkers and tourists out and about, seeing the armed officers helps.
"I feel really safe. If I keep thinking that I am not safe that is like giving those guys, they are winning."
"I noticed a couple of police presence and I feel alright, I feel a little bit safe."
"I feel like they would be very well prepared to deal with anything should it happen."
Across the nation, security will also be heightened at airports, railroads and bus stations, as some 50 million Americans are expected to travel over the long holiday weekend.
