Street closures for the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in New York; FBI reinforces security in the face of Israel-Hamas war – El Diario NY

While there are no specific risks for the traditional 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, the war between Israel and Hamas “has created an environment of greater threat” that makes the event an “attractive target,” they warned. the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies.

As is tradition, this Thursday the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will leave the Upper West Side of Manhattan and will tour two and a half miles until closing with a show in Herald Square. It is estimated that 3.5 million people will see it in person with free access and many more on TV, through NBC y Peacock, from 8:30 am to 12 pm EST.

From today, walkers can see from afar the balloons that are inflated in the improvised parking lot near the Museum of Natural History (AMNH).) en 200 Central Park West (80th St).

“Although the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade event in New York City will provide a broad set of potential soft targets for an attack, congested areas where the largest number of people gather, particularly areas designated observation areas, are probably the most vulnerable places to a massive attack,” warns the federal assessment. “Nearby publicly accessible areas, public transportation hubs, pre-event gatherings, and post-event celebrations may also be considered potential targets due to the ability to cause significant casualties at such locations.”

The New York Governor Kathy Hochulspoke yesterday about state security, in the midst of the war in the Middle East.

“We would be naive if we thought that the war in the Middle East does not have the possibility of spreading to other states, particularly New York; We have been the target of attacks in the past, but “We are very prepared,” Hochul said. The evaluation, obtained by ABC News, expressed concern about “lone actors using online platforms to express threats of violence against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communitiesas well as for committing simple and unsophisticated attacks that are difficult to detect in advance.”

The federal assessment also highlighted al Qaeda’s calls for its followers to attack American, British and French citizens, as well as Jews everywhere, using “public events and large gatherings” as a backdrop.

New York being the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel and also home to the United Nations Organization (UN)has been the scene of constant protests and arrests since the beginning of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.

Prevention measures include monitor social media and other communications for potential terrorist threats.

This Thursday is shaping up to be without rain and the temperature forecast is 54F (12C) with a minor sensation in the day and 42F (5.5C) at night, and 15 mph winds (important point for the giant balloon parade, an almost chaotic factor in the 2019 event). Previously, a cold record was set in 2018.

At a logistical and security level, the usual closure of streets, bus routes and some accesses to the Metro in Manhattan: basically between Central Park West, 6th Av y Herald Square. For updated changes to bus routes and Metro access, see MTA.

Weather updates can be found here and on the portal of National Weather Service (NWS-NY). Further details here about the forecast in counties of New York and Jersey and on this page NBC News Weather.