Police departments across the United States have begun increasing security to protect Jewish citizens, communities and houses of worship in the aftermath of a surprise attack on Israel carried out by Palestinian terrorists.
The terrorist group Hamas committed a horrific attack on Israel over the weekend, killing at least 700 Israelis and injuring thousands. Reports indicate that roughly 100 people were kidnapped during the attack. Four of the individuals killed were reportedly American citizens, and some reports have claimed that Americans were among those who were kidnapped as well.
As New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, Mayor Eric Adams (D) made an announcement on Saturday that he had been communicating with top New York Police Department (NYPD) officials amid efforts to identify “potential threats.”
“While there is no credible threat to New York City at this time, our administration is in touch with Jewish leaders across the five boroughs, and we have directed the NYPD to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe,” Adams’ press release continued.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) made a similar announcement over the weekend, noting in his press release that law enforcement in the state “will be increasing patrols in sensitive areas – particularly houses of worship for both the Jewish and Islamic faiths – and taking other steps out of an abundance of caution.”
Los Angeles also has a large Jewish community, and authorities in the city have announced that they would be increasing their presence around synagogues and the surrounding neighborhoods — as well as Muslim communities.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of the turmoil in the Middle East and lives lost. In those areas where we serve both our Jewish and Muslim communities, we will be conducting extra patrol to ensure the safety of all,” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore wrote in a statement shared to X, formerly known as Twitter.
As Los Angeles has one of the largest Jewish communities in the Nation, we are closely monitoring the tragic attacks in Israel and have stepped up patrols around synagogues and surrounding neighborhoods. https://t.co/iSHItc4yVd
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) October 7, 2023
Law enforcement officials in Miami, Florida, have also announced plans to increase the number of police officers in Jewish and Muslim institutions.
“The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority, especially during difficult times. In light of recent events in Israel, the Miami Beach Police Department has augmented police visibility near all synagogues and other strategic locations in our city,” Miami Beach Police wrote in a statement shared to X. “This is a proactive measure to ensure the safety and security of everyone.”
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) October 7, 2023
The Miami-Dade Police Department made a similar announcement on X, revealing that they planned to increase “police presence in areas of religious significance, including mosques and synagogues, as a result of the recent attacks in Israel to ensure the safety of our residents.”
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) October 7, 2023
There will also be increased police protection in Houston, Texas — with Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) writing in a statement that the city is “enhancing security around synagogues and other potential venues.”
Meanwhile, several conservatives have expressed concern about potential attacks in the U.S. because the wide-open border could allow terrorists to enter the country undetected.
