We are safe, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton assured New Yorkers on the 13th anniversary of 9/11.
But the threat of terrorism is growing with the violent rise of ISIS, which is recruiting with an effectiveness and social media sophistication well beyond that of Al Qaeda, Bratton said in an interview on CBS This Morning.
“We are safe,” the commissioner told host Charlie Rose.
“However the threat is growing exponentially since the emergence of ISIS, as reflected in the president’s speech last night,” he said.
“ISIS is much more into the inspiration of the lone wolf,” the commissioner said of the difference between the rising terror group and Al Qaeda, from which ISIS splintered.
“They are much more into the solo actor. They are sophisticated in their capabilities through their videos, through their social media, through their magazines. They are a very sophisticated operation seeking to recruit even more so than Al Qaeda was over the years.”
ISIS has already begun sending operatives abroad, noted John Miller, NYPD’s commissioner for intelligence and counter-terrorism, who joined in the interview.
“We haven’t seen it here, but it’s a concern,” Miller said.
The city and country is being vigilant in monitoring against the return of some 100 Americans believed to have left to join ISIS, along with hundreds more recruits from the UK and Australia, Bratton said.
The department has been “expanding on the already formidable expertise that the NYPD developed since 911,” Bratton said.
“Commissioner Kelly had really build a world class anti-terrorist operation here.
“We have sought to strengthen and expand our relationship with our federal colleagues these last eight months that we have been here.
“I was on the phone earlier this week with the head of the metropolitan police in London,” he added.
“We are hoping that he will be coming here shortly for the joint terrorism conference here. This is an international concern.”