As the long Independence Day weekend approaches in the United States on July 4th, New York City is ramping up security measures to prevent potential “lone wolf” attacks. Recent intelligence bulletins issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have highlighted the security threats that the Independence Day celebrations in New York City may face from individual actors and small groups, with motivations ranging from race, politics, to international conflicts.
According to information obtained by Bloomberg and ABC News, both the FBI and DHS are concerned that following the deadly vehicle ramming incident on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, there may be copycat attacks. They point out that the 2025 ISIS-inspired car ramming incident perfectly reflects how propaganda messages from foreign terrorist organizations can lead to attacks on Western targets.
The FBI and DHS state that these types of lone actors are difficult to prevent mainly because they can evade detection until carrying out an attack, and possess the capability to cause mass casualties. Intelligence indicates that whether it is domestic violent extremists supporting foreign terrorist organizations or domestically radicalized individuals with no clear affiliations, they all pose a persistent threat to law enforcement agencies.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and New York Governor Kathy Hochul also indicated on Wednesday that despite no specific or credible threats currently known, given several past individual attack incidents targeting large crowd events, the police will maintain heightened vigilance.
Tisch emphasized that law enforcement is closely monitoring individuals whose behavior may be influenced by global events. While no specific threats have been identified, intelligence units, federal anti-terrorism groups, and domestic and international partners are actively tracking all leads in real-time.
To enhance security, authorities will deploy defense measures on land, water, and in the airspace. During the Macy’s Independence Day fireworks show, flight restrictions will be implemented over the East River, with thousands of officers stationed in fireworks viewing areas, including Brooklyn Bridge Park and Piers 16 and 17 at the South Street Seaport.
Governor Hochul stated that with rising tensions in the Middle East, New York State has already elevated its security alert level. She has instructed state police to reinforce deployments at major events across the state and closely coordinate with local and federal law enforcement agencies. National Guard troops will also be stationed at transportation hubs, critical bridges, tunnels within New York City, while monitoring social media and potential online threats.
Hochul further urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement immediately.