With Thanksgiving less than a week away, New Yorkers are gearing up for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The famous parade will feature 22 large character balloons, 34 floats, 11 marching bands, 28 performers and more than 10,000 participants.
Each year, the parade attracts millions of spectators lining the streets of New York City. That means it could be a target for foreign and domestic terrorists seeking to commit acts of violence.
However, law enforcement officials said there’s no “specific, actionable threat,” according to a report obtained by ABC News New York.
The document notes the most significant threat “stems from lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence.”
One particular concern, law enforcement says, is vehicle ramming, in which a threat actor targets crowds of pedestrians. ABC News reports law enforcement plans to have trucks posted along the parade route as a precaution.
Last year, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested for disrupting the parade when they attempted to glue their hands to the pavement. Police say the protesters were arrested and investigated for vandalism.
This year, the bulletin warns law enforcement remains concerned about malicious actors attempting to disrupt public safety, including blocking roads and key transportation hubs.
