After white flags, NYPD steps up surveillance of Brooklyn Bridge
De Blasio: A ‘wake-up call’
Visitors to the Brooklyn Bridge have noticed a heightened security presence nearly a week after persons unknown climbed the cables to the bridge towers, swiped two 12-by-18-foot American flags and replaced them with flags that appeared to be bleached white.
While likely a high-spirited prank, the July 22 incident has raised concerns about a glaring breach in bridge security.
NYPD’s Counterterrorism Bureau has beefed up its surveillance, with foot patrols, helicopter sweeps and Marine Units on, above and below the iconic structure.
On Sunday night and into Monday, a helicopter hovered over the bridge for long periods before sweeping around the structure. One counterterrorism officer told the Brooklyn Eagle that the helicopters would continue the sweeps into the foreseeable future.