Intense comprehensive security plans in place for NYCs July Fourth weekend

The Big Apple will be under lock and Francis Scott Key.Extensive gridlock, security checks and police squads will be in action Saturday as New York City celebrates America’s blockbuster 250th birthday, officials said.City Hall on Wednesday unveiled its plan to keep safe the hundreds of thousands of partiers expected to flood the city for July Fourth and other festivities this weekend, when temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s.The International Naval and Aviation Review, Parade of Sails and traditional Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks will take place Saturday, preceded by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding Friday and followed by Sunday’s Round of 16 World Cup match between Brazil and Norway at MetLife Stadium.“We have a comprehensive security plan in place for each of these events to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festivities safely,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference with NYPD officials.The city will be boosting the number of uniformed officers across the five boroughs, Mamdani said.“We’ve also been working for months across all levels of city government as well as with state and federal partners to keep our city safe,” he said.“And because this week’s activities take place not only on land and the air, but also on sea, we are coordinating with the Coast Guard and the Navy,” he added, referring to the planned parade of tall ships and the US Navy’s Blue Angels flyover.Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that the increased security presence had already begun Wednesday to coincide with the US and international fleets arriving ahead of Saturday’s historic flotilla.“We continue to operate in a heightened threat environment as we work to safeguard the events over the next several days,” Tisch said.“But I wanted to emphasize, there are no known specific or credible threats to this year’s celebrations,” she said.“Our intelligence division, our joint terrorism task force, and ...