The terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS) has issued a threat against the India-Pakistan match scheduled for June 9 in the T20 World Cup cricket tournament, prompting increased security measures.
New York Governor Cathy Hochul has directed the New York Police to bolster security, which includes enhanced law enforcement, surveillance, and intensive investigative procedures. Bruce Blakeman, chief of Nassau County, which borders New York City, stated, “We are prepared to deal with every situation. We are taking all precautions.”
Blakeman emphasized that all threats are taken seriously and handled consistently. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, posted an image of a cricket stadium on a British chat site, featuring drones flying over it and the date 9/06/2024, corresponding to the India-Pakistan match. This screenshot was featured in an NBC New York TV news report.
While New York authorities have downplayed the ISIS post, they continue to monitor the situation closely and have increased security measures. Governor Hochul assured that there is no threat to public safety, but precautions are being taken. “My administration has been working for months with federal law enforcement and Nassau County to ensure that the people of New York and those who come here are safe,” she said.
The New York Cricket Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000 spectators, is specially designed for competitions. The T20 World Cup will kick off on June 1 with an exhibition match between India and Bangladesh, followed by the regular tournament matches starting June 2. NBC New York reported that the security preparations for the World Cup are the most extensive ever undertaken by Nassau County, comparable to those for a US presidential debate.
