The New York police department, which has been studying closely the tactics used by the 26/11 attackers in India, has asked the security staff of hotels here to be more vigilant as they too may be vulnerable to the Mumbai-style terror strikes.
It has advised them to be on the look out for suspicious persons who loiter in the lobbies and other areas and the guests who book rooms for unusually long time.
The police department has also advised the hotels not to hesitate to contact it, even as it itself is looking closely at the tactics used by the Mumbai terrorists and preparing contingency plans.
Security officials here believe that they are prepared to prevent or quickly respond to an attack but say there are no guarantees. “We have a very proactive intelligence gathering and analytical capability that will hopefully assist us in preventing something like Mumbai from happening,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
The security officials are also conducting exercises to refine measures in case any major building or hotel faces terrorist attack.
An analysis conducted by the police finds that the Mumbai terrorists relied heavily on detailed surveillance of targets and they knew the layout of the hotels.
More From This Section
Ever since the Mumbai attacks, security analysts here are considering the possibility that militants may try to use similar tactics in New York which has dozens of high-rise building and posh hotels frequented by world leaders.
At a conference of private security officials as also hotel management representatives yesterday, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Mumbai and New York bear several similarities both are the financial capitals, multicultural, densely populated cities. That could make the US city a compelling target.
At the meet, the strategy followed by Mumbai terrorists as also steps to make the possible targets safer were discussed. The attacks, Kelly added, also “represent a shift in tactics toward low-tech weaponry and a coordinated effort by a small group of men.” He said the department was using lessons learnt from the attacks in Mumbai to examine security procedures here. “You can’t make a fortress, we understand that,” Kelly said, adding that the department wanted to work with the hotel security directors.
It has also sent to India three investigators to study the situation and steps needed to better protect the city. The intelligence team, which was dispatched to India shortly after the attacks, concluded that the Indian law enforcement was ill-prepared for such an attack and it took them by surprise. Kelly said the police are doing everything to protect New York from a similar attack. But “we live in a dangerous world and there are no guarantees.”