US 4th July celebrations not dampened by high security alert

Police were put on highest alert for terror and public vigilance advised by the FBI and Homeland Security for the Fourth of July weekend. New York enlisted 7,000 police officers to protect events “in the name of prevention,” said New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. Checkpoints were place in the National Mall in Washington DC for the hundreds of thousands of spectators expected for a parade, concerns and fireworks displays later Sunday.  A joint intelligence FBI-Homeland Dept bulletin indicated that terrorists could use the patriotic holiday as an opportunity to stage an attack. No specific threats were mentioned; however, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said his agency will be working with other federal and local departments – as well as the American public – to prevent a possible terrorist act.