The NYPD is taking aggressive measures to provide security at a parade on Fifth Avenue in support of Israel on Sunday, city officials said.
“If you’re at or around the parade there’ll be certain measures that you see, and others that you don’t see,” said Police Commissioner Edward Caban of the event, which is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Counterterrorism, aviation and drone units will be deployed, according to the NYPD.
While there have been no specific threats targeting the parade, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said at a press conference on Friday that terrorist organization Islamic State recently put out threatening propaganda.
“It would be hard to argue that the circumstances around this event are not different from years past,” Weiner said.
The Israel Day on Fifth Parade has been held in the city for six decades. It is the first major Jewish event in New York City since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and resulting Israeli military bombardment of Gaza. The parade will focus on calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The 18-block parade route from 56th to 75th Street on Fifth Avenue to “has been fortified,” Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. School safety officers will search all spectators with magnetometers at designated entry points.
Maddrey said protesters who show up at the parade will be “respected.” There have been 1,300 protests in New York related to the war since it started in October 2023.
Matt Katz
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