Following the U.S. airstrikes that incapacitated Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday night, a travel security expert emphasized the importance of Americans having an escape plan in case of an assault on a travel hub.
Robert McDonald, who has over 20 years of experience as a Secret Service agent, specializes in executive protection, intelligence, and protective travel logistics. He managed security operations for visits by U.S. and international dignitaries during his tenure.
Now, he is a professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven.
“Such locations are where people frequently come and go. They are transient. Many people visit them daily,” he mentioned to Fox News Digital concerning airports and bus and train stations. “Anything can occur at any moment. It’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings, maintain situational awareness, and be prepared to extricate yourself if an incident occurs.”
An Iranian demonstrator holds an anti-American sign. (Getty)
Since Saturday’s bombings in Iran, a leading state sponsor of Islamic terrorism, major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Miami have stepped up security protocols.
Fox News contributor Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector who monitored terror cells, told Fox News Digital that police are upping patrols, particularly at relevant religious sites, and also monitoring for online chatter from potential terror threats.
“[NYPD] will put out special attention patrol cars at locations that could track to the conflict in places that have an Israeli connection, and there’s a couple of Shia mosques – Iran is Shia – and there are a couple of Shia mosques,” Mauro told Fox News Digital. “You never know what’s going to develop. So [they’ll] liaise with those communities. They’ll talk to them, they’ll put special patrol, special attention patrol.”
“You’re going to look very closely online,” he said. “You’re going to be monitoring a lot of the online stuff. NYPD has a very robust cyber counterterrorism program, and you’re going to do that very heavily.”
