This weekend’s New York City marathon will have the tightest security ever with record number of sand trucks, patrol helicopters the NYPD will be out in ‘even greater force’ then ever before in the wake of the truck terror attack.
There will be twice as many rooftop police snipers, increased heavy-weapons teams and counter-terrorism officers, NYPD Chief of Department Carlos Gomez confirmed in a joint press conference today with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
De Blasio confirmed the marathon would go on as scheduled, with some ‘additional measures to ensure that’.
He added that runners and spectators can expect to see a heavy police presence, as well as lots of other increased security measures which would go unseen, as he said he was ‘confident’ the race would go off as planned.
And he urged New Yorkers not to let the terror attack stop them from enjoying the annual event.
‘Do what you do best, be New Yorkers,’ he said at the press conference. ‘Be strong, be proud, be resilient, show the world right now, we won’t be moved by terror.’
This weekend’s New York City marathon will have the tightest security ever (pictured, an armed cop at the race in 2016)
The NYPD will be out in ‘even greater force’ then ever before in the wake of the truck terror attack yesterday (pictured is the damaged Home Depot truck that plowed into cyclists)
The 26 mile route will not be passing near the terror attack site, but officials are taking great measures to ensure its participants and spectators stay safe
Gomez has also vowed that the marathon on Sunday will be a ‘very safe event.’ Gomez said Wednesday that there also will be an abundance of plainclothes officers, bomb dogs and helicopter surveillance.
‘We’ve added more sand sticks blocker vehicles,’ Gomez said. ‘It will be the most ever deployed at this event.’
However, Gov. Cuomo did concede that even with all the increased security, it was impossible to make the entire 26-mile route ‘safe’.
‘You cannot have concrete barriers in front of every possible location. You do everything you can.’
He added that they were doubling police bodies at the event and at hubs such as Grand Central station.
Security at the event has been beefed up in the wake of Tuesday’s terror attack which saw the driver of a truck mow down innocent people in New York, killing eight and injuring 12.
There will be twice as many rooftop police snipers, increased heavy-weapons teams and counter-terrorism officers, NYPD Chief of Department Carlos Gomez (pictured with Gov. Cumo) confirmed in a joint press conference today
Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, who pledged his allegiance to ISIS before the attack and had been planning it for weeks, remains in custody in the hospital after being shot in the stomach by an on-duty NYPD officer at Chambers Street in Tribeca on Tuesday afternoon.
Five of the dead were part of a group from Argentina who were celebrating thee 30-year anniversary of their high school graduation. Another victim was from Germany and the other two were American. Two of the injured were staff members on a bus transporting children that Saipov slammed into at the end of his rampage.
Eight people died and 12 suffered serious injuries, ranging from a bilateral amputation to serious head and neck injuries, back trauma and trauma to the arms and legs.
Cuomo said that Saipov ‘radicalized domestically’ after moving to America in 2010, where he has worked as a commercial truck driver and Uber driver.
Saidpov is reportedly seen here holding his two fake guns after climbing out of the Home Depot truck. He ran about a block south of the crash before being shot. Records indicate he worked as an Uber driver and a commercial truck driver
New details are emerging about Sayfullo Saipov (left and rightt) who mowed down more than a dozen innocent people on a New York City bike path on Tuesday
Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke at the Wednesday press conference.
‘This was an attack on the United States of America, an Attack on New York City, an attack on our people,’ De Blasio said.
‘It was the definition of terror – an effort to take away people’s hopes and spirit and make them change.
‘And what New York has showed already is that we will not be changed. We will now be cowed, we will not be thrown off by anything,’ he added.
Around two million defiant New Yorkers took to the streets immediately after the attack for the 44th annual Halloween parade – despite ISIS calling on lone wolf attackers to target the event following the truck terror attack.
De Blasio and Cuomo were among those who attended the parade.
Now more than 50,000 people from 120 countries are preparing to compete in New York City’s 41st marathon on Sunday.
The marathon attracts 50,000 runners, and more than 2.5million spectators every year (pictured is last year’s event)
Entrants go through the bag check, one of the many strict security measures at the New York Marathon
New York City Police officers patrol near the finish line ahead of the 2016 New York City Marathon in Central Park with sniffer dogs
They will be cheered on by 2.5 million spectators who refuse to let the terror attack stop them from enjoying the annual event.
The famous marathon was first held in 1970, when 127 people raced around Central Park. Six years later, about 2,000 amateur runners dashed through the streets of all five New York boroughs in 1976. That is the anniversary that was celebrated on Sunday.
This year, the organizers New York Road Runners canceled the ceremonial Blue Line Painting and Faces of the Marathon events scheduled for today in the wake of the attack, but all race activities this week will continue as planned.
‘For this weekend’s marathon, as with all our events, the safety and security of our runners, staff, volunteers, and spectators is our top priority,’ the statement said, adding there are ‘extensive security measures in place, both visible and behind the scenes.’
Security at marathons at cities all over the world were stepped up after the bombings at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon.
In New York, a host of new security measures were introduced after that terror attack, such as all entrants who choose to check a bag must do so in a clear, race issued plastic bag. There is also a list of prohibited items including hydration backpacks, vests with multiple large pockets, and non-formfitting costumes or thos that cover the face.
The last time security at the New York Marathon got such a dramatic beef up was after the Boston bombing (pictured) in 2013