NYPD training for new threats in wake of Mumbai terror attacks

Washington, Jan 9 (ANI): After studying the Mumbai terror attacks, the New York Police Department (NYPD) is looking for ways to disrupt cell phone calls and other forms of electronic communication among terrorists in the event of another terror attack in New York.

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly is scheduled to discuss this and other "lessons learned" in testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, FOX News reported.

Kelly stressed the need for law enforcement to be able to disrupt cell phone calls and other communications during an attack, pointing to threats posed by the media when they disclose law enforcement tactics during live coverage that can get passed back to the attackers.

Kelly said that in the Mumbai attack, the terrorists' handlers used cell phones and other portable communications devices to order the killing of hostages and to adjust other tactics while the attacks were underway.

It's not clear from his testimony whether the NYPD has the means to disrupt electronic communications for a small group of terrorists without shutting down cell phone service to a large part of Manhattan.

Kelly's testimony also warns that although New York has adopted the most robust counter-terrorism programs, but police still "cannot fully protect New York's harbor" given the vast amount of un inspected cargo that enters the ports of New York and New Jersey each day.

As a result, Kelly says he has continued to highlight the "urgent need" for better port and maritime security, FOX News reported.

"We are mindful that the attackers approached Mumbai from the water," his statement reads.

The 36,000-member NYPD, the nation's largest city police force, has already changed some procedures and conducted new drills in response to vulnerabilities identified by a three-member NYPD counter-terrorism team that visited Mumbai three days after the attack in India's financial center ended. (ANI)