New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Counter Terrorism conducted more than 1,000 counterterrorism exercises throughout the state this year.
In these exercises, counterterrorism experts went undercover as customers to assess the ability of businesses to recognize and report suspicious activity. Teams assessed 175 hardware and agricultural stores, 112 truck rental locations, 93 drone retailers, 92 big-box retailers, 79 self-storage facilities, 78 private shipping facilities, 74 hotels, and 24 gun and sporting goods stores, among others.
“Preparation and readiness are key to any successful emergency response, and these exercises play a critical role in strengthening law enforcement’s counterterrorism preparedness,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “These counterterrorism operations serve as a reminder to businesses and the general public to stay alert and report suspicious activity when they see it.”
The teams also assessed over 200 infrastructure locations that have the potential to be exploited or targeted during an attack. These locations include stadiums and arenas, malls and shopping centers, hospitals, colleges and universities, airports, transit hubs, and other mass-gathering places. Officials from the Office of Counter Terrorism provided training to staff at several of these venues. The department also conducted exercises along Amtrak routes and MTA commuter lines.
“All New Yorkers have a role in preventing terrorism and reporting suspicious activity to the proper authorities is one of the most effective ways citizens can contribute to public safety. These exercises not only allow businesses to take a step back and evaluate their own awareness, but they also provide them an opportunity to work directly with law enforcement experts on improvements and next steps,” New York Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Patrick Murphy said.