NewsNational News

Actions

Macy's Thanksgiving parade goes off without issue amid tight security

<p>New York City police took extra precautions for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.</p><p>Although the New York Police Department said it hadn't heard of any "specific,<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/nypd-increases-thanksgiving-day-parade-security-816046659709" target="_blank"> credible threat</a>," in an online propaganda magazine, ISIS <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-isis-magazine-calls-excellent-target/" target="_blank">called for</a> lone-wolf attacks similar to the one in <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/isis-just-claimed-responsibility-for-the-attack-in-nice/" target="_blank">Nice, France, earlier</a> this year.</p><p>In July, an ISIS supporter drove a truck through heavy crowds in Nice, killing more than 80 people.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/isis-wants-more-solo-knife-attacks/">ISIS Calls For More Solo Attacks As It Loses Ground At Home</a></b></p><p>But the NYPD said the calls for a Nice-style attack aren't surprising.</p><p>"This isn't something we thought of last weekend. For the last several years, we have had blocker cars on every intersection on that route," NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/nypd-john-miller-on-trump-tower-security-protecting-thanksgiving-parade-from-isis/" target="_blank">told CBS</a>.</p><p>Those blocker cars got an upgrade this year, though. Police blocked intersections with more than 80 sand-filled trucks. When full, the trucks weigh <a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/11/22/thanksgiving-day-parade-heightened-security/" target="_blank">30 tons</a>.</p><p>In the past, a few cross streets along the parade route were kept open for cars. But this year, the entire route was <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/11/24/new-york-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-islamic-state/" target="_blank">closed off</a>.</p><p>Add to that more than 3,000 <a href="http://qz.com/845433/nypd-is-preparing-for-a-possible-isil-terror-attack-at-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/" target="_blank">heavily-armed</a> officers, and the NYPD feels confident in protecting the parade.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/sensitive-information-of-us-sailors-has-been-leaked/">Personal Information Of Over 130,000 US Sailors Has Been Leaked</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/wayne-state-university-police-officer-dies-after-shooting/">Wayne State University Officer Dies After Shooting; Suspect Arrested</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/different-ways-people-celebrate-thanksgiving-traditions/">Different Table, Different Story: Let's Talk Thanksgiving Traditions</a></li></ul>
Posted

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of people lined the streets Thursday amid heavy security including bomb-sniffing dogs and portable radiation detectors as iconic inflatable balloons, costumed characters and clowns floated, marched and danced their way through New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Revelers cheered and yelled, "Thank you!" as police walked the parade route, and the crowd gave special attention to the New York Police Department marching band.

Spectators — sometimes standing 10 deep — held signs and balloons as they watched Santa Claus and his reindeer, Ronald McDonald and SpongeBob SquarePants pass by. Charlie Brown led the signature balloons as the parade kicked off with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting before the parade made its way down to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street.

Clowns carrying bundles of balloons rode down the parade route as marching bands from across the country entertained revelers. Costumed characters and dozens of celebrities, including singers Tony Bennett and Sarah McLachlan and Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, were among the attendees.

Annie Quinn traveled more than three hours from Albany to attend the parade with her cousin and two sisters — all three dressed in turkey costumes — scoring prime front-row seats along the route.

"We sat here for hours, but it was worth it," she said. "This was the best parade I've seen in a while."

But amid the fun, high-fives and cheers, there was an air of uncertainty about the possibility of an extremist attack after a recent posting in an English-language Islamic State group magazine that called the parade "an excellent target." Nevertheless, the parade went off without a hitch Thursday.

More than 80 sanitation trucks filled with sand were parked at intersections and other places, acting as barriers against any kind of attack. The NYPD said the sanitation trucks, which they have used before, would play a bigger role at this year's parade in the wake of the cargo truck attack in Nice, France, that killed more than 80 people.

In addition to more than 3,000 uniformed and plainclothes officers, bomb-sniffing dogs and officers with assault weapons and portable radiation detectors walked among the crowds.

At least one spectator said the intensive security made her feel secure.

"There are so many police officers out here you can't help but feel safe," said Sarah Bender, who brought her two young sons to watch the parade. "It's a day to have fun, watch the balloons and celebrate with your family. You can't spend your life worrying about what could happen."