NYPD-Photo courtesy of Schwartz for news
Security will be at a all-time high in New York City for the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks and his cohorts. Roof top snipers, armored vehicles and lock-down zones will be part of the plan. "Its highly appropriate that those accused in the deaths of nearly 3,000 human beings in New York City be tried here, and the NYPD is prepared for the security required", Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly vowed.
The security plan has been thought out for months in anticipation of 9/11 terror trials coming to the United States. The implementation of security measures will be a joint effort between NYPD and federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI and the U.S. Marshalls.
The U.S. Marshalls typically handle the courthouse security and protect those on trial. A role for the FBI would be to protect the public from anyone hoping to disrupt the trial or gain international recognition by trying to free the defendants. Security will be a 24-hour operation that will include fixed canine posts, counterassault teams in the area and the deployment of the NYPD counterterrorism initiatives which include the Hercules teams and Operation Atlas. These initiatives will help in the lock-down of designated zones, conducting security sweeps of the area around the courthouse, increased deployments of harbor, aviation and emergency service units.
As they await trial, the defendants are expected to be held for months, or even years in a high-rise, high security Federal prison, which is adjacent to the courthouse complex. The prison is well accustomed to holding high-risk and high-profile prisoners, ranging from terrorists like Yousef and Qaeda operatives accused of bombing U.S. Embassies in Africa.
The New York City Police Department and its counterterrorism mission is one of the best in the world in detecting, dismantling terrorist activity, mitigating the effects of terror attacks and intelligence gathering. The NYPD and other law enforcement agencies will be prepared.
Final thought: What is certain is the attention the trial will receive and is already being billed as "The trial of the century".
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