Where's the security at Ground Zero?

Empty police barricade near Ground Zero

NEW YORK – Security at Ground Zero was almost invisible on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, despite repeated government warnings of prospective terrorist attacks.

An ad hoc tour of Ground Zero and other Manhattan landmarks by WND showed a noticeable lack of new security. This despite warnings from both President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that police would be on heightened alert after recent intercepted terrorist chatter was found to be "credible."

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Thousands of local residents, tourists and gawkers descended on Ground Zero last night to be part of the city's remembrance, creating pockets of almost block-party-like crowds.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department left numerous security posts abandoned.

In one eye-witness incident, an NYPD motorcycle officer double-parked, then left his vehicle, so he could take souvenir cell phone photos of the rapidly rising 1 World Trade Center, better known at the "Freedom Tower."

A tour lasting about 45 minutes took this reporter from the Hilton Millennium Hotel, which sits just across the street from the World Trade Center, down Vesey Street, passing by 1 World Trade Center (within 200 feet of the "Freedom Tower") and ending near Rector Street and the World Financial Center.

There were several police barricades, none of which were manned. In fact several became benches for visitors looking for relief for their tired feet.

Few police of any kind could be found.

Unmanned barricades used as 'benches' by crowds

I counted only a dozen NYPD officers and two unarmed civilian security officers, none of whom stopped or searched any of the thousands of visitors who were flooding the site just hours before Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were scheduled to arrive.

"It's incredible. Where's all the security?" asked one New Jersey visitor who declined to be identified.

During my 45-minute visit, I was never stopped or searched by any police/security personnel, despite the fact I was carrying a large shopping bag and attaché case, both large enough to have concealed weapons.

Numerous unguarded sites were also found throughout the neighborhoods straddling the World Trade Center.

The only noticeable NYPD presence involved a dozen uniformed officers stationed near St Paul's Chapel, which was holding a late-evening, candlelight vigil to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The chapel also provided memorial white ribbons for visitors to place in the front of the church as a public way to remember what took place 10 years ago.

St. Paul's, only two blocks from Ground Zero, became a de facto home for many first responders during the days following the 2001 attacks.

Other NYC landmarks also seemed abandoned Saturday evening.

Grand Central Station, normally frequented by as many as 90,000 people a day, was all but abandoned Saturday night. Only one lone NYPD squad car sat perched on the eastern periphery.

The same went for United Nations headquarters just down the block near the East River.

One single police cruiser sat parked outside the main gate.

This came despite many unanswered questions regarding an attempt by an Iranian journalist to enter the U.N. compound with a concealed handgun earlier in the week.