Federal Authorities Set Security Level High For The 4th Of July


Recent attacks in Turkey have caused federal and local authorities in the U.S. to be alert as the level of security is high for 4th of July, according to a bulletin submitted by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

Authorities in Washington, D.C., is making sure the security level is high for 4th, as they will have one of the largest firework displays in the country. Police will reportedly be designating patrols on possible targets such as landmarks, theaters, public places, and more.

These increased security notifications are standard and normally sent out right before the holidays as a precaution.

While all holidays are a high priority, the 4th of July is considered more important because of its significance to the United States as it celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

In these times, when nationalism is at an all-time high, the security threat is especially important for the 4th as it symbolizes a revolutionary period in the nation’s history. The political right-wing Tea Party movement of today has exploited this over the years, and to this day, it’s used as a way to debate gun rights and immigration issues.

Donald Carder wears his handgun in a holster as he pushes his son, Waylon, in a stroller at the National Rifle Association convention Saturday, May 21, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Attendees at the convention are permitted to carry firearms under Kentucky’s open carry law. [Photo by Mark Humphrey/AP Images]

This week, a terrorist attack in Istanbul — which many feel was planned by ISIS — is only the latest incident to call for an increase of security worldwide. The attack occurred weeks after a massacre at an Orlando nightclub, which many also believe had connections to terrorism.

Federal authorities clearly feel that by putting local authorities on high alert for the 4th, it will help to prevent a terrorist attack that would exploit the significance of the holiday for Americans.

According to a report by USA Today on the Homeland Security alert, Gwendolyn Crump, who is the director of communications for the D.C. Metropolitan police, points this out as well.

“The safety of residents and visitors to the city during this special event is always at the forefront of our planning and response efforts. Recent global events require a vigilant and proactive posture.”

The same source does, however, say that “there has been no specific, credible threat targeting 4th of July celebrations.”

The report also says that there will be plain-clothes officers assigned to various potential targets, but for the most part, some authorities have refused to provide any more details that would potentially risk revealing any operation.

Special police forces in Istanbul’s airport, which was targeted this week, secures the area much like the airports in the United States. [Photo by Emrah Gurel/AP Images]

Reuters is reporting on the high level of frustration travelers are likely to encounter around the 4th of July when they may encounter delays.

For instance, it points out that a terminal at JFK International Airport was recently evacuated when security responded to a suspicious package.

Only a month ago, the Inquisitr reported that the shooting of a belligerent traveler was enough to shut down all of Love Field Airport in Dallas.

The difference between the airports and public places is how they’re able to increase various security elements in their instruments if the authorities feel a threat level is high, but there’s no indication of whether they will be looking for anything specific for the 4th.

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Amtrak is also working with intelligence officials after the recent attacks to know what they should look out for on the 4th of July, so the high level of security applies to even less popular ways to travel. Amtrak has also made headlines in recent years by sparking debate over infrastructure and systematic failures over reports of crashes that injured and killed many travelers.

The Reuters source shows images of U.S. Army soldiers at airports as a sign of the high level of security for the 4th, which many feel is a sign that the government has now activated the Army on American soil.

Clearly, travelers have little choice but to accept that the security threat is high for the 4th, which will continue to be the case throughout the year no matter what form of travel one wishes to use.

[Photo by Stuart Ramson/AP Images for Toshiba America, Inc.]

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