The New York City Police Department is closely monitoring the situation in Belgium and is in close contact with our international partners and with the FBI.
Until we learn more, the department has deployed additional counterterrorism resources across the city including: the Counterterrorism Response Command (CRC), the Strategic Response Group (SRG), and Hercules Teams.
These teams have been deployed to crowded areas and transit locations around the city out of an abundance of caution to provide police presence and public reassurance as we closely follow the developing situation overseas.
At this time, there is no known indication that the attack has any nexus to New York City.
We will continue to follow the situation in Belgium closely with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI and adjust the department’s deployments accordingly.
These attacks come at a time when the federal government has proposed cutting terrorism funding to New York City by roughly 90 million dollars.
Any cut in terrorism funding to New York—to what is widely recognized as the nation’s top terror target—would be irresponsible.
An NYPD police car was seen parked outside the Belgium Consulate on the East Side.
AIRPORTS:
The Port Authority Police Department is stepping up security at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark with heavy weapons. It also is using high visibility anti-terrorist patrols at the PATH and World Trade Center.
There are several direct flights from JFK airport to Brussels, operated by Delta Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Asiana Airlines. United flies a direct flight from Newark to Brussels. All flights to and from Brussels International have been suspended until further notice.
American Airlines in a statement said all of its employees have been accounted for. “We are aware of an incident at the Brussels airport departure hall and are taking care of our customers, employees and contractors,” the airline said in a statement. “When operations at the airport resume, we will reaccommodate our customers.”
United Airlines said all of its employees are safe and accounted for. United had two arrivals at Brussels International Airport Tuesday morning. Flight 950 from Washington Dulles arrived at 7:01 a.m. A second flight, flight 999 from Newark Liberty, was rerouted to a remote location.
ON LONG ISLAND:
Nassau County officials said although there were no known threats to the county, Nassau County Police had intensified patrols on mass transit, critical infrastructure, and will increase patrols at some public events.
A federal law enforcement source told ABC News that an increased law enforcement presence is expected on all transit and rail systems in major cities throughout the United States.
NATIONWIDE SECURITY:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was closely monitoring the events, officials said Tuesday. The department said it “would not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people.”
The Justice Department and the FBI was coordinating with other U.S. government agencies, as well as with Belgian counterparts.
In Brussels, the U.S. Embassy recommended sheltering in place and warned U.S. citizens there to monitor local developments and take “appropriate steps to bolster your personal security.”
