New York State, City Tighten up Security amid Terror Warning

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 08, 2003

New York State, City Tighten up Security amid Terror Warning

New York state governor George Pataki and city mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday announced the activation of contingency plans to keep New Yorkers safe.

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New York state governor George Pataki and city mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday announced the activation of contingency plans to keep New Yorkers safe.

The move was taken in response to US President George W. Bush administration's decision to raise the national terror alert status from yellow to orange, indicating a high risk of a terrorist attack either in the United States or against American interests abroad.

"Our job, first and foremost, is prevention," said Bloomberg, mayor of New York city, at a press conference on Friday afternoon."If we can prevent anything from taking place, so much the better."

The state authorities have deployed additional National Guard troops to the city, with some of the forces designated to monitor the presence of biological, chemical and radioactive weapons.

According to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, an additional 1,000 police officers have been deployed for counter-terrorism duties throughout the city's five boroughs.

There will also be an increased police presence at transportation hubs, hotel lobbies, bridges and tunnels, as well as throughout the city's financial district, he added.

Governor George Pataki and Bloomberg said law enforcement is stepping up to keep the city safe, and urged New Yorkers to go about their normal activities.

Bloomberg said New Yorkers should take comfort in the increased uniformed presence throughout the city, but he assured that there has been no specific threat to any certain location so far.

Orange is the second-highest level in the color-coded system instituted after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. New York City has been at that status level since shortly after Sept. 11.

The last time the alert level was raised to this level was on Sept. 10, 2002, for the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was brought back to level yellow, which represents an "elevated" risk of terrorism, about two weeks later.

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