NYPD increases security at synagogues after Iranian missile attack on Israel

Chris Sommerfeldt and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News on Oct 1, 2024

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NEW YORK — The NYPD has mobilized cops to Jewish houses of worship across the city Tuesday after Iran fired more than 100 rockets against Israel, officials said.

The enhanced deployment of police personnel, which has been in place for weeks, will extend through the High Holy Days, which will begin with Rosh Hashanah Wednesday and include Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, which sparked the current Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We were already at a heightened alert,” an NYPD spokesman said. “We have already deployed counter-terror measures around the city,”

City residents are expected to see more NYPD heavily armed “Hercules” teams and uniformed officers in marked police vehicles at Jewish institutions, synagogues, foreign consulates and public places, like Times Square and Central Park, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the NYPD Intelligence Bureau is also in constant contact with its overseas liaisons, getting real-time information on the attacks, as well as reviewing chatter on social media, to see if any possible attacks are being coordinated here.

Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the mobilization during his weekly address to reporters Tuesday.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” Adams said. “We’re taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of everyone in this city with the High Holy Days upon us.”

The visible surge in police patrols in New York City is intended to be an added protection as well as a deterrent to anyone thinking of committing a bias crime during these turbulent times, police said.

The added officers were put in place long before Tuesday’s missile attack, NYPD officials said.

In addition, Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted early Tuesday afternoon that police are also being mobilized around New York State.

“I have been briefed on this ongoing situation and have directed @NYSPolice to increase patrols of at-risk locations across New York,” she said. “There are no reported threats to New Yorkers at this time. We continue to pray for peace and an end to the violence.”

More than 100 missiles were fired into Israel Tuesday — a sharp escalation of the months-long conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran’s attack follows Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in a targeted bomb strike in Lebanon on Friday.

There were no immediate reports of casualties as Israel ordered residents to head to bomb shelters and as air raid sirens sounded across the country, Israeli officials said.

In light of the attack, New York City cops were preparing for possible assaults against Jewish houses of worship, as well as possible reprisal attacks in the city’s Iranian communities, police sources said.

As part of the NYPD’s High Holy Days protection plan, cops will be upping patrols by city synagogues and in Jewish communities. They will also be in constant contact with Jewish community leaders to hear their concerns.

Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday to outline these upgraded security measures during the High Holy Days.

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