NYPD to contract Israeli firm to search deep web for terrorists trying to make bombs

The NYPD is preparing to partner with an Israeli company to scour the deep web for terrorists who want to make bombs, other explosive devices and chemical weapons, according to an official notice online.The two-year, $567,000 deal with Tel Aviv-based Terrogence Global will cover the purchase of “Explosive Tradecraft Intelligence Reporting Services” that will look for and analyze online conversations in multiple languages, according to the notice seeking public comment. The comment stage is a precursor to a deal.The company provides a tool for searching for online discussions on IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), bombs and chemical weapons, a police source said.On its website, Terrogence says its “analysts utilize multiple virtual agents (Avatars) to gather information” from the Internet.They agents also “proactively engage potential threat actors on social media, instant messaging and the Deep Web, and provide the relevant context to mitigate threats,” according to the website.  The three-year contract would go into effect Sept.

15 with options to renew through 2033, according to the notice seeking public comment.The move to bolster the detection of bad actors online comes as arsonists torched at least 11 marked NYPD vehicles in a Brooklyn parking lot Thursday.Investigators found undetonated explosive devices in the area after two masked suspects were seen running away, police and sources said.The NYPD has been ramping up its tech abilities recently overall.

Last year the department inked an $383,744 contract to purchase a drone-tracking system.The stationary system uses radio frequencies, cameras and radar to id and follow drones, according to the contract....