Potential terror threats have alarmed officials as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade approaches in New York City.
A joint threat assessment obtained by ABC News highlighted how the parade could attract both foreign and domestic terrorist violence according to multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the New York Police Department.
Key threats include “lone perpetrators and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence,” but the document says there is no “specific, actionable threat.”
Concerns were raised about vehicle ramming, which has become a ‘recurring tactic’ used by terrorists or terrorist groups seeking to target busy areas.
This year marks the 98th year of the annual parade, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, West 77th Street and Central Park West.
“While the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade event will provide a wide range of potential soft targets for attack, crowded areas where the largest numbers of people gather – especially designated viewing areas – are likely to be the most vulnerable to high-casualty attacks, ‘ the assessment said, according to ABC.
Law enforcement agencies said they “remain concerned that malicious actors may attempt to engage in public safety disruptions, including attempts to block entrances and exits and roads surrounding the event and major transportation.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and New York Police Department, have expressed concern about possible terrorist attacks as large crowds are expected at the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Law enforcement agencies said they “remain concerned that malicious actors may attempt to engage in public safety disruptions, including attempts to block entrances and exits and roads surrounding the event and major transportation.”
The parade is expected to attract a large crowd of more than two million spectators and 10,000 participants.
Ten performance groups, many music stars, 700 clowns and 11 marching bands are also expected to be in attendance, all before Santa Claus closes the celebration.
According to NBC News, it was announced that new performers for this year’s parade would include Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Billy Porter and Loud Luxury.
The parade will feature more than twenty different character balloons, including Snoopy, Ronald McDonald and Disney’s Minnie Mouse, and will end at Macy’s Herald Square.
Concerns about potential threats come next pro-Palestinian demonstrators taped their hands to the sidewalk along the routeresulting in the arrest of 34 protesters during the 2023 parade.
The activists had doused themselves in fake blood and forced the parade around their demonstrations to continue, shouting: ‘Liberation for Palestine and climate.’
Their actions left many outraged that the popular, fun-filled family event had been dragged into politics, while others commented on the way the broadcasts seemed to purposefully avoid highlighting the disruption that was taking place.
Taking extra precautions likely to be seen this year, NYPD officers were out and about, with officials saying they had increased extra “robust” security along the route compared to previous years.
The protest focused on US support for Israel, while also linking the Middle East crisis to climate change, chanting: ‘Liberation for Palestine and climate’.
One of the main threats comes from “lone perpetrators and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence,” but the document notes there is no “specific, actionable threat.”
Before the event was hampered by politics, the festivities started off bright and sunny as the city celebrated the 97th edition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade — although Snoopy fans were somewhat deflated when the air disappeared from one of the famous giant balloons, causing his hat to drop .
Further deflations hit the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Monkey D. Luffy, after both characters got stuck on overhanging trees and obstacles that popped the huge balloons.
More than three dozen floats, 25 giant balloons and 18 star performers – including Jon Baptiste and Cher – took center stage as the lively parade moved through the city, with the first floats reaching Midtown Manhattan by mid-morning.