Terrorist mag Inspire is has encouraged jihadists to build car bombs and attack crowds of people instead of buildings — and the U.S. Open came up as a suggested target, an NYPD official said.
Intelligence Analysis Director Rebecca Ulam Weiner said the sick propaganda publication’s latest edition featured recipes for car bombs and recommendations to target crowds for maximum carnage.
“The ideas is to attack people, not buildings to look for areas that are densely populated,” she explained during a Shield Conference at One Police Plaza on Wednesday.
The 12th edition of the jihadist magazine recommends soft targets and has sparked discussions of examples, including Times Square and sporting events.
“This recipe gives you the ability to make a car bomb even in countries with tight security and surveillance,” the twisted article states. “The reason is: primary materials easily available and they do not raise suspicion.”
The author goes on to explain: “These materials area not explosives in nature. But after you have assemble and prepare them, they become a bomb ready for destruction. This type of car bomb is usually not used to destroy buildings but is very effective in killing individuals.”
Under specific targets, Inspire suggests “tennis stadiums; they are visited by thousands of people, and high profile people, especially the US Open.”
Weiner said the NYPD has no specific threat reporting with regards to the tennis stadium.
“Nonetheless, we would be remiss not to take note of it, as this event comes up,” she added.
The conference also featured Edward Davis, former Boston Police Department Commissioner, who led local authorities and coordinated with federal investigators after the bombing of the Boston Marathon.
That terror attack clearly targeted crowds and not buildings. Davis stressed the importance of social media in getting out information – particularly during the manhunt for the suspects.
“Please do not broadcast our tactical positions,” one BPD Tweet noted.