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FBI, CMPD focus on uptown parade security, remind officers to be vigilant

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The president met with members of his national security team Wednesday to review efforts to protect people during the holiday season. It comes after this week the terror group ISIS called New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade an “excellent target.”

Readout of the president's meeting with his Counterterrorism and Homeland Security team:

This morning the President convened members of his national security team to review our comprehensive domestic and international efforts to protect the American people during this holiday season. The President commended the continued cooperation between federal, state and local authorities to ensure public safety and directed that all agencies maintain vigilance to ensure we are best postured to defend the homeland and prevent attacks by individuals radicalized to violence. The President was also briefed on recent successful military operations against ISIL and Al-Qa'ida that targeted key external operations plotters. He instructed the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community to maintain our relentless pressure on terrorists seeking to harm Americans. Finally, the President expressed his deep appreciation for U.S. personnel deployed around the world and the countless security personnel standing watch at our borders, ports and facilities across the nation while their fellow Americans come together for the holidays.

The FBI sent a bulletin, reminding agencies, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, of the potential threat at shopping malls, crowded venues and special events, like the 69th annual Thanksgiving Day parade in uptown Charlotte.

Final preparations, including security measures, were underway Wednesday in uptown, as organizers prepare for thousands of people to line the streets Thursday morning.

The city of Charlotte declared the parade an "extraordinary event" on Wednesday.

CMPD released a statement on the "extraordinary event status:"

“An Extraordinary Event is defined as a large-scale event or an event of national or international significance which might attract a significant number of people to a certain geographic area of the city. The CMPD will be appropriately staffed to maintain a safe environment for those attending the event.  As always, we urge members of our community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”

“There are no credible threats here in Charlotte,” said security expert Ross Bulla. “We have vapor dogs out that are working. We have ID teams which are the undercover plain clothes law enforcement officers who are working the crowd, profiling behaviors, not people but profiling their behaviors for suspicious activity.”

Bulla also said counterterrorism teams and SWAT teams will be on standby, along with dozens of uniformed officers patrolling the parade route.

The Charlotte Division of the FBI released this statement on security for the parade:

"As part of the continuous dialogue with our law enforcement partners, the FBI routinely shares information about potential threats to better enable law enforcement to protect the communities they serve.  We urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement." 

Authorities also encouraged people to report any suspicious activity.

The parade, sponsored by Novant Health, will be held on Thanksgiving Day.

Parade prep will close part of uptown starting on Nov. 22:

  • Levine Avenue of the Arts between Tryon and Church streets: 10 a.m. Nov. 22 through 8 p.m. Nov. 24.
  • South Tryon Street between MLK and Stonewall Street: 6 p.m. Nov. 22 through 8 p.m. Nov. 24.
  • Tryon Street Bridge between Morehead and Stonewall: 6 p.m. Nov. 23 through 2 p.m. Nov. 24.
  • Tryon Street from 3rd to 9th Street: 8 a.m. Nov. 24 through 2 p.m. Nov 24.
  • Hill, Stonewall streets: 6 a.m. Nov. 24 through 2 p.m. Nov. 24.
  • Phifer Street: 6 a.m. Nov. 24 through 6 p.m. Nov. 24.
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