NYC steps up security following Manchester bombing

The explosion carried out by a suicide bomber at an arena in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people has prompted New York City to increase security with more explosive detection dogs, counter terrorism officers, subway bag check points and heavy weapons teams, the New York Police Department said.

"We have moved additional heavy weapons teams to high profile locations around the city," NYPD spokesman J. Peter Donald said in a statement on Tuesday.

Although there is no "specific/credible threat" to the city at this time, according to a Tuesday morning tweet sent by the NYPD's counterterrorism bureau, the added security has been taken as a precaution.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called for state law enforcement officials to "step up security and patrols at high-profile locations", including airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems, in "an abundance of caution".

Local media reported that heavily armed NYPD teams were posted Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Ariana Grande last played at that arena in February. The next major event at the Garden is a Billy Joel concert on Thursday, and authorities at Madison Square Garden said they were working with the NYPD to come up with appropriate security.

In Times Square, concrete barriers have been added along and on sidewalks following last week's rampage in which a man drove his car down crowded sidewalks for three blocks, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring her sister and 21 other people before a metal post stopped him.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 05/24/2017 page1)