The recent incident of vandals smashing windows on dozens of subway trains in New York City has raised concerns about the city's vulnerability to potential threats.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer safety patrol organization, spoke to Fox News Digital about the incident and its implications. Sliwa emphasized that the incident should serve as a warning to Mayor Eric Adams and highlighted the city's simultaneous challenges, including the influx of unvetted migrants from the border.
The vandalism occurred overnight on Tuesday, resulting in the smashing of 97 windows across 45 trains on various subway lines. This led to service disruptions and shutdowns, affecting hundreds of thousands of morning commuters.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority estimated that the damages amounted to $500,000. Authorities assured the public that they have photos of the "criminals" responsible and vowed to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
While officials did not mention any terror connection, Sliwa argued that the incident should be seen as a warning about potential threats to New York City's infrastructure. He drew parallels to the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center and the subsequent warnings from Osama bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks.
Sliwa expressed concern about the city's porous border and the lack of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by elected officials.
Sliwa also referenced a previous incident in April 2022, in which a subway shooter disguised himself as an MTA employee and carried out an attack. He highlighted the vulnerability of the subway system to various forms of attacks and criticized the lack of security measures, such as the absence of cameras in subway cars and the limited presence of police officers on trains.
According to Sliwa, the subway system provides an ideal target for individuals with malicious intentions due to the lack of surveillance and the lenient approach to property crimes. He argued that the current application of the law prioritizes street crimes over property crimes, resulting in minimal consequences for those caught vandalizing or committing other acts of property damage.
Sliwa also questioned the staffing levels of the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which plays a crucial role in deterring threats. He expressed concern about the staffing shortages faced by the NYPD as a result of the defund the police movement. Sliwa criticized Mayor Adams for focusing on initiatives like TikTok and drones instead of prioritizing the presence of trained police officers to address subway crime, vandalism, and potential terrorism.
The issue of migrants arriving in New York City was also raised by Sliwa. He noted that there has been an increase in the number of migrants from sub-Saharan countries, including those with active ISIS and al-Qaeda cells. Sliwa expressed concern about the potential risks posed by individuals with terrorist agendas who are able to move freely in the city.
The sanctuary status of New York City prevents the NYPD from cooperating with ICE on civil detainer requests. However, the NYPD's intelligence and counter-terrorism division testified that they cooperate extensively with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in criminal enforcement.
Sliwa questioned the contradiction between the creation of ICE in response to the 9/11 attacks and the limitations imposed by sanctuary cities and states on law enforcement's ability to work with the agency.
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