Mayor Bloomberg Says NYC Faces Radiological Threat
NEW YORK [MYFOXNY] — On the same day Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano discussed terrorism concerns, the federal building in Lower Manhattan had a brief security scare.
A letter with a white powder was found at the office of the Social Security Administration at 26 Federal Plaza. Seven people were exposed, but seemed to be fine. They are being watched as a precaution. The building was not evacuated.
The scare came on the heels of a warning from top intelligence officials that al Qaeda is deploying operatives to carry out attacks inside this country. The officials expect an attempted attack in the next three to six months.
Meantime, Bloomberg attended a Homeland Security Advisory Council meeting in Midtown. The council is made up of leaders from state and local governments, first responder communities, the private sector, and academia.
Bloomberg said the federal government needs to come up with funds for a radiological detection system in New York. He said the most serious threat New York faces is an attack by a nuclear or dirty bomb attack.
“We can’t nickel and dime our best hope for the worst possible calamity,” Bloomberg said. “We’ve just got to take this seriously and the federal government needs to take New York City seriously, because we are the number one target.”
Secretary Napolitano called for the creation of a new task force to develop community-based efforts with a focus on training, information sharing, and community-oriented law enforcement to combat homegrown terrorism.
She said the United States should be using every tool at its disposal to deter, detect, and prevent attacks.
“We face an enemy whose desire to attack us here at home has not diminished and who continues to seek every avenue to circumvent the security measures we’ve put in place since 9/11,” Secretary Napolitano said. “Faith-based and community groups play a major role in all aspects of American life, including our efforts to work together at all levels to combat these terrorist threats.”
