There was a big show of force by the NYPD on the Lower East Side this morning. But it was only an anti-terrorism drill.
Police officers, medics, FBI agents and members of the Department of Homeland Security converged on the closed Bowery train station. They blocked off Kenmare Street. The drill simulated an ‘active shooter” scenario on the subway platform.
In the drill, two officers responded to a report of a man with a gun. They were presented with a number of unexpected obstacles and fired high-powered weapons loaded with blanks. The exercise was planned before the Paris attacks.
Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson were all on hand to observe.
