NYC Prepares For Potential Reprisal After Iraq Drone Strike

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers awoke Friday to a city irreparably changed by President Donald Trump's decision to target Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, with a deadly drone strike, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Our world changed last night," the mayor said at security briefing at City Hall. "There's no way to predict what happens next."

The NYPD has already moved to increase counterterrorism at prominent New York City sites the Mayor would not name, but described as some of the nation's most likely targets for the revenge vowed by Iran after a U.S. strike on Baghdad's international airport killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani.

"No one has to be reminded that New York City is the number one terror target in the United States," said de Blasio. "As of last night, we are dealing with a different realty."

While there was no credible or specific threat to New York City as of Friday morning, Mayor de Blasio said the city will need to sustain vigilance for weeks, months or years.

Deputy Counterterrorism Commissioner John Miller said the NYPD received advanced notice of the strike to prepare security.

"We were reached out to very early on," Miller said. "Those plans were ready to go."

Details were sparse on what increased policing will look like, but Commissioner Dermot Shea told New Yorkers to expect more uniformed police, armed with long guns, in "sensitive areas" and "critical structures."

Shea urged New Yorkers to immediately report suspicious activity — strangers seeking information about city security systems, for example — to police.

"When that hair goes up on the back of your head that something feels out of the ordinary, you're right," said Shea. "Let a cop know."

This plea comes as hate crimes spike in New York, prompting a new NYPD task force and increased security in city houses of worship. The city is also experiencing increased policing in city subways which has spurred outrage among city dwellers who fear New Yorkers of color will be targeted.

De Blasio said the NYPD would adapt to potential threats as deemed necessary and counterterrorism policing could make its way into city subways.

"If we think bag checks are necessary, we'll do bag checks," he said.

The Mayor urged congress to act immediately to prevent further escalation with Iran.

"We're dealing with an adversary that we've never confronted previously at this scale," de Blasio said. "I would be even more confident that we could keep New Yorkers safe if we could stop this march to war."

Update: The MTA announced Friday it would increase security because of "recent international events" but said there were no known threats.