Top security for UN summit
New York has gone into security lockdown as it prepares for the United Nations summit, the biggest meeting of world leaders in history.
Prime Minister Tony Blair will be among 175 heads of state descending on the city over the next 24 hours.
The Secret Service has deployed a record number of agents and 4,000 NYPD officers, including heavily armed counter-terrorism squads, will be working around the clock.
“It will be a General Assembly like no other,” said New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
The NYPD has spent months finalising the massive security operation, into which it has ploughed unprecedented resources.
Streets will be closed and vehicles will be liable for searches all week around the UN riverside
headquarters in midtown Manhattan.
There will be a seven-mile no-fly zone over the city, increased security at underground stations and limited access to the East River, which will be patrolled by the US coastguard.
All vehicles approaching the immediate UN vicinity will have access blocked at checkpoints while they are searched for bombs and explosives.
New Yorkers have been warned to expect “gridlock squared.”
The Secret Service has also assigned personnel to the families and aides of visiting leaders.
Mr Kelly said there was no specific terror threat, but the London underground bombings, launched as world leaders met for the G8 summit in Gleaneagles, were at the forefront of everybody’s minds.
Paul Brown, NYPD spokesman, said innovative technology was being employed to ensure maximum safety.
“It is a very complex operation because of the number of heads of state coming, including several that are considered high risk,” he said.
“The roads where many leaders are staying will be closed, the aviation division will monitor the skies in addition to helicopters.
“At plenary meetings when all heads of state are together the entire area will be shutdown and closed to all traffic.”
Besides Mr Blair and US President George Bush, the leaders will include Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The summit, which marks the 60th anniversary of the UN, starts tomorrow and closes on Friday.
