The dreaded terror group IS has released a new video showing images of the iconic Times Square and a suicide bomber zipping his explosive vest and apparently preparing for an assault on New York City.
The five-and-a-half-minute video starts with horrific scenes from the recent >Paris attacks and shows French-and Arabic-speaking militants praising the Friday assault that left at least 129 people dead, media reports said.
At the end of the video a suicide bomber is shown making an explosive vest, putting it on and zipping up his jacket.
The next image is of a crowded Times Square, Herald Square and two midtown Manhattan crossroads in New York. The militant is seen holding a trigger and the video suddenly goes blank, reports said.
In a statement, the New York Police Department said it was aware of the video and was deploying additional members of its new anti-terrorism squad out of an abundance of caution.
It said some of the footage is old but the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target.
“While there is no current or specific threat to the city, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance and will continue to work with the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the entire intelligence community to keep New York safe,” the statement added.
“The people of New York City will not be intimidated,” a tv channel quoted Mayor Bill de Blasio as saying. “We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes.”
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said the video offers nothing new. “In New York, we understand we are a terrorist target. It reflects the importance of this city,” he said.
NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counter-terrorism John Miller said a similar video was released in April, 2015.
“This is an old video that was kind of rehashed. When we see the video, we make note of it, but it’s like a lot of videos we’ve seen,” Mr. Miller said.
>Major attacks by IS
- ›Jan. 7, 2015 - Masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, killing 12 people.
- ›Sept 24, 2015 - At least 25 people were killed when two bombs went off outside a mosque during prayers to commemorate Eid al-Adha
- ›Nov. 13, 2015 - Twin suicide bombings struck a southern Beirut suburb that’s a stronghold of the militant Shia Hezbollah group, killing at least 43 people
- ›Aug 6, 2015 - A suicide bomb went off at a mosque in Abha city in south-west Saudi Arabiakilling at least 15 people, including 12 members of a Saudi police force.
- ›July 20, 2015 - An explosion outside a cultural centre in the Turkish town of Suruc near the border with Syria killed at least 28 people
- ›March 18, 2015 - Gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed Tunisia's national museum, killing at lease 38 people
- ›June 20, 2015 - Islamic State claimed responsibility for car bombs which killed at least 50 people near Sana’a mosques and the headquarters of the Huthis