UN General Assembly means heightened New York City security, officials say

New York City will be under special security restrictions in the air, on land and on the waterways when leaders from around the world convene next week in Manhattan at the United Nations General Assembly, official said Thursday.

There are no specific, credible threats targeting the diplomatic conclave, which in the past has generated traffic chaos in Manhattan, but there will be numerous restrictions and street frozen zones around the UN headquarters on the East Side, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and federal officials gathered for a briefing in advance of the 81st session of the General Assembly.

NYPD officers, expected to number in the thousands, will be responsible for providing security at the UN complex and surrounding areas, Tisch said. Hundreds of U.S. Secret Service and State Department law enforcement officers will protect foreign diplomats, the police commissioner added.

Police also will have heavy weapons teams, K-9 patrols and bomb squad officers on duty for the entire week, Tisch said.

"A temporary flight restriction will be in effect from Sept. 20 through the 26th within a two nautical mile radius of the UN, this restriction includes all unauthorized drones," Tisch said, adding that the NYPD's counter-drone unit would deal with any drones that violate flight restrictions.

Recently, the NYPD was granted authority by federal officials to "mitigate" unauthorized drone flights of any sort, including the use of electronic countermeasures to take control of the devices.

U.S. Coast Guard vessels also will be stationed offshore in the East River near the UN complex, augmented by NYPD harbor units, officials said.

First Avenue near the UN will be part of a frozen zone that will be closed to traffic from East 41st Street to East 48th Street, with East 42nd Street closed from First to Second avenues, Tisch said. There also will be sporadic and unannounced street closures to accommodate diplomatic motorcades. Given the traffic nightmare expected on the East Side, Tisch strongly recommended people rely on public transportation to get around next week.

Tisch said the rights of expected protesters to gather peacefully in the area around the UN for demonstrations will be protected, but violence won’t be tolerated.

Concern about demonstrations during the General Assembly ramped up after Mamdani said in July that he lacked the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he attended. A day later, the mayor reportedly indicated New Yorkers had the right to protest at the UN.

New York City Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry said Mamdani’s comments, coming the day after his statements about Netanyahu — who has since said he will attend the conclave — had the potential to spark demonstrations and "chaos."

On Wednesday, when Mamdani was asked at a separate news conference about the potential for demonstrations at the UN, he said he had no intention of personally taking part, and "never encouraged" other New Yorkers to protest.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.