NYPD beefs up security at churches & synagogues for Passover, Easter Week
Following Egyptian Coptic Church terror attacks
In the wake of deadly bombings at two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt on Sunday that left at least 44 people dead and more than 100 others injured, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Chief of Patrol Terence Monahan announced increased security measures at synagogues and churches across the city for Passover and Holy Week observances.
At a press conference on Staten Island on Monday, the mayor said that the city was reinforcing security measures to prevent a copycat attack.
The mayor said that following an attack of this nature anywhere in the world, “immediate action is taken to reinforce the community that is under attack” in New York City. After so many tragic attacks, “NYPD moves almost instantaneously,” he said.
“So if it happens to be, for example, the attack that happened in Sweden, we reinforce the Swedish government locations in New York City. If it is an attack on a Catholic church, you reinforce the Catholic churches in this city and get that presence out front immediately.”
In addition to religious institutions, security at other key public sites is also increased, the mayor said.
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks in Egypt. A three-month state of emergency has been declared by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Leave a Comment
Leave a Comment