NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� New York is planning tight security around the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the wake of mass shootings elsewhere in the U.S., police said Wednesday, while stressing that there's no known, credible threat to the famed event itself.
The holiday tradition, which draws throngs of participants and spectators, this year comes two days after six people were killed in a shooting in Virginia, and four days after another shooting killed five people in Colorado Springs. Also over the weekend, a man who allegedly was arrested at New York's Penn Station with a knife, a ski mask, a swastika arm patch and an associate, authorities said.
In light of those events, police 鈥渨ill deploy additional resources to ensure the festivities across the city are safe for all,鈥� New York Police Department counterterrorism Chief Martine Materasso said at a news conference amid the inflation of the parade's signature giant balloons. She said authorities had no indication of 鈥渁ny active, credible or specific threat鈥� to the event.
By now, the security measures are almost as familiar as the parade itself. They include heavy weapons teams, explosives detection dogs, a bomb squad, radiological and chemical sensors, drone detection, sand trucks and blocker vehicles and additional cameras on the route.
Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette promised the parade will be 鈥渂igger and better this year than ever before鈥� 鈥� so much so that it's starting at 8:45 a.m. instead of 9 to accommodate all the balloons, floats, marching bands, singers, cheerleaders, clowns, Broadway casts, and Radio City Rockettes. And, of course, Santa Claus.
include the animated sensation 鈥淏luey," Stuart the one-eyed Minion from 鈥淒espicable Me 2,鈥� and new green dinosaur and 鈥淒iary of a Wimpy Kid鈥� balloons.
The biggest characters are as long as 70 feet (21 meters) and have 50 handlers holding their ropes, Matt Kaprielian, who oversees the balloons, said in an interview as they were inflated.
Seeing them up close was 鈥渁 dream come true鈥� for youngster Sophia Correa Perea.
鈥淭hey're, like, humongous!鈥� she said.
Sam Lo and his family also were impressed to watch the giant characters take shape.
鈥淭his is wonderful 鈥� first time experiencing it live, in person,鈥� Lo said.
The Associated Press
