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CNN Live Today

Police on Heightened Alert in NYC

Aired May 22, 2002 - 14:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: For the most part, it looks like just another Wednesday on the streets of New York City. Police there, though, have put on extra precautions there in the wake of what the commissioner calls general threats against the city and some of its best known landmarks.

Deborah Feyerick is at one of them, the Brooklyn Bridge, which was one of two locations cited yesterday about possible, again possible, we underline that, terrorist activity.

Deborah, good afternoon, again.

FEYERICK: Hi there, Bill.

Well, New York's mayor and police commissioner are reassuring the public that everything is OK. They are setting up dozens of security checkpoints and enforcing the Harbor Patrol Units, but it's not so much because of any terror information. They say that they're going to enforce all DWI laws heading into this Memorial Day weekend.

You see, business does go on as usual, even though there is that FBI information.

Police did (AUDIO GAP) of specific targets or potential targets, and so what they did is, they just took the necessary precautions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): The Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty, American symbols. Now, sources say, possible terrorist targets.

The FBI alerting New York's Joint Terrorist Task Force of new information. City landmarks may be at risk. Also warning the public in a statement that the United States government has received unsubstantiated and uncorroborated information that terrorists are considering attacks against landmarks in New York City.

The FBI has few other details -- no time, no date, no idea how such an attack would be carried out. It's America's new reality in the war against terrorists.

MIKE BROOKS, FORMER DETECTIVE, FBI TERRORISM TASK FORCE: We're in the game. We were in the game before 9/11 and a lot of people didn't realize we were in the game. And this game, they're playing for keeps.

FEYERICK: Security in New York City already tight after 9/11, now even tighter. Police, who never comment on counter-terrorism operations, saying...

RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: Certainly, after 9/11, anything is possible, but I think we are doing the best that we reasonably can do to prevent another incident and to respond if, God forbid, there is one.

FEYERICK: Traffic at many New York bridges slowed by police checkpoints. And though tourists can travel to Liberty Island, the statue itself remains shut following the September attacks.

With the holiday weekend coming up and 22 ships expected in New York Harbor for Fleet Week, officials are urging people to carry on as they usually do and not blow the warnings out of proportion.

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: We're going to have threats for the foreseeable future and we just have to have confidence that the federal officials, working with state officials and local officials and alert citizens, are capable of responding and preventing and making sure that we don't give into the fear.

FEYERICK: Earlier information on possible targets has come from al Qaeda detainees in custody on Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan, where hundreds of documents have also been seized and are being analyzed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): The Brooklyn Bridge is just north of Lower Manhattan. The World Trade Center used to be just behind from this perspective.

Again, police are taking precautions, but they say they're not on any sort of higher alert. They're just making sure they do what they have to, warning people to keep their eyes open -- Bill.

HEMMER: Deborah, thank you.

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