NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The federal government is providing helicopters to enforce temporary flight restrictions over New York City during New Year's Eve.
Thousands of police officers -- uniformed and undercover -- will be deployed at possible terrorist targets around New York City, especially Times Square.
"We're paying, perhaps, additional attention to hotels and sensitive locations this year," New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said when asked what was different from security last year. "We have more personnel. We have our counterterrorism helicopter that we're using."
Heavily-armed "Hercules Teams," bomb squads, and mounted officers will be among those on patrol, and snipers will be posted in buildings surrounding Times Square, reported New York City cable news station NY1.
However, despite the even more beefed security and with the nation's terror alert raised to orange, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said residents and visitors should enjoy the festivities.
"I want to urge everyone to leave the worrying to the professionals. That's what these security levels are for -- they're for professionals," Bloomberg said. "The rest of us, let's go to Times Square."
