The New York City Marathon will go on as planned Sunday after Tuesday’s terror attack in Lower Manhattan, but not without additional security measures.
While the “marathon will go on because New York will go on,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference Wednesday morning, police officials said the annual race will have its “most ever” NYPD deployment.
The detail will more than double rooftop observation teams and include more sand trucks, blocker vehicles and cops in civilian attire as well as a “large number” of canines, counter-terrorism officers and helicopter patrols, NYPD Chief of Department Carlos Gomez said.
The extra measures that will be in place Sunday come after the deadliest terror attack in New York City since 9/11.
More than 50,000 runners are expected to run in Sunday’s marathon while an estimated 2.5 million spectators look on.
A marathon expo kicked off Thursday as planned at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen, drove a rented pickup truck down a West Side bike path in Lower Manhattan Tuesday afternoon, killing eight people and injuring 12 others. He has been in the U.S. on a green card since 2010.
Saipov was shot in the abdomen by NYPD Officer Ryan Nash after he exited the truck following a crash and was brandishing what was later determined to be an imitation firearm. Knives and another fake weapon were recovered at the scene.
Saipov was taken to Bellevue Hospital and now faces terror charges. While the Paterson, New Jersey, resident’s history is still being investigated, officials said he was known to federal authorities.
