New York Police Department Chief Carlos Gomez said more counter-sniper teams and blocker vehicles will be deployed along the New York City Marathon route Sunday in the wake of Tuesday’s terror attack.
“It will be a very safe event,” Gomez said at a press conference Wednesday, one day after a driver plowed a truck through a bicycle lane in lower Manhattan, leaving eight people dead and another dozen injured.
Gomez said the NYPD has added more sand trucks and blocker vehicles, “the most ever deployed for this event.”
He said the NYPD has more than doubled its observation teams, including counter-snipers, and is increasing canine units and both counterterrorism officers and officers in civilian clothes. Police helicopters will patrol above the marathon route and survey rooftops.
Gomez said the extra security measures are taking place throughout the city, not just in Manhattan.
More than 51,000 runners are expected to take part in Sunday’s marathon and 2.5 million onlookers are expected along the route.
