New York Using Sand-Filled Trucks at Macy’s Parade

New York police will be using sand-filled trucks, radiation detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs and heavily armed officers at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday after the Islamic State urged followers to attack the event. About 3.5 million people are expected to walk the parade route through Manhattan for the annual parade that sees cartoon character balloons float along with participants. Authorities say 82 sand trucks from the city’s Sanitation Department will be used to protect the parade from a possible terrorist attack. The sand trucks, which weigh more than 30 tons when filled with sand, are meant to prevent any vehicles from being able to ram through the parade’s perimeter. “We are aware of some of the reports that have been out there, but I want to assure all New Yorkers there's no credible and specific information of any specific threat directed toward this parade,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said ahead of the parade on Wednesday. Ahead of the parade, the Islamic State told followers the heavily televised parade would be a perfect target for a holiday attack. In its online magazine, the group encouraged followers to use vehicles for mass attacks, similar to the Bastille Day attack in Nice.