Police in New York City are stepping up security measures in what has been described as ‘strategic locations’ in the wake of Sunday night’s deadly massacre in Las Vegas that has left at least 58 dead and more than 510 wounded.
NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said on Monday there have been no specific threats to New York City.
O’Neill offered his thoughts on the mass shooting, believed to be the deadliest of its kind in modern US history, while speaking at the 16th annual Domestic Violence Training Conference at Police Headquarters.
NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said on Monday, whle speaking at an unrelated event, there have been no specific threats to New York City
Crossroads of the world: ounterterrorism units have been deployed in Times Square as a precaution (stock image)
Bloodbath: People scramble over barriers to get to safety as the gunfire rages on at the Las Vegas country music festival Sunday night
‘Here in New York City, we’re monitoring the investigation and have deployed personnel to strategic locations out of an abundance of caution,’ O’Neill told the audience. ‘There are no direct threats to New York City but we’ll certainly be maintaining our vigilance.
‘We’re keeping everyone affected by the events in Las Vegas in our thoughts and I ask that you do as well.’
Additional counterterrorism units have been deployed in Times Square as a precaution, according to CBS New York. on the heels of the devastating attack during the sold-out Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip.
Authorities in Las Vegas have identified the gunman as 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, a resident of nearby Mesquite, Nevada, who they say unloaded thousands of rounds of ammunition on a 22,000-strong crowd of concertgoers while he was holed up in a room on the 32nd story of Mandalay Bay hotel across the street.
PICTURED: The man suspected of killing 58 people and injuring 515 when he opened fire on concertgoers Sunday night has been identified as Stephen Paddock
Thousands of rounds of ammunition were fired from a hotel room on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay overlooking the concert venue
When clark County officers burst into Paddock’s room Sunday night, they found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, surrounded by an arsenal of 10 firearms.
As of Monday afternoon, the number of casualties was 58 dead and 515 wounded.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all flags on government buildings to be lowered to half-staff as a sign of mourning.
‘Once again the nation mourns in the wake of yet another senseless and horrific mass shooting. New York stands with Las Vegas in the aftermath of this heinous and vile act of gun violence and my heart aches for its victims and their loved ones on this darkest of days,’ he said in a statement.
Police departments in major cities around the country are monitoring the situation in Las Vegas.
NYPD reassured New Yorkers Monday that there is no direct threat to the city
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck tweeted that one of his officers was wounded in the shooting
Chicago police tweeted that local authorities are receiving ‘real-time updates’ from their counterparts in Vegas.
‘There are no links to Chicago and nothing to indicate it’s a part of a larger terror plot,’ read the tweet.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement that one of its off-duty officers was wounded in the attack while attending the country music festival in Las Vegas, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
‘The Los Angeles Police Department continues to monitor the events in Las Vegas closely,’ the press release read. ‘While this appears to be an isolated incident with no apparent threat to Los Angeles, we ask the public to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings.’
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