The challenge of protecting soft targets in big cities | Forensic Files

After Paris, the NFL now says it will increase security at its stadiums beginning tomorrow. Aaron Morardi got a
firsthand look at the challenge of protecting soft targets in the biggest of cities.
We're going to be safe. We're going to be vigilant. And we're going to be disciplined.
Rolling through New York Times Square today, a very visible sign that the city's anti-terror squad is on the job.
A job that gets harder and harder, guessing where terrorists could strike next. Is this what you would call a soft
target? Absolutely. There's uh lots of people here. There'll probably be more at lunchtime. Um these people are just
unsuspecting shoppers. Most of them are probably tourists. Vincent Mara was a highranking counterterrorism officer for
the New York Police Department in the years following the 9/11 attacks. He says what happened in Paris is a sign of
what could come. But in this situation, the way they targeted young people in late evening hours, I mean, they knew
what they were doing. I mean, they targeted people who were very susceptible, people out partying, it's
something that really hits home. Mea believes this is just the latest tactic of ISIS terrorists. It looks to be
terrorism evolving. It looks to be the next generation. focusing primarily on what the experts call soft targets. The
goal of hitting a soft target is to hit a place where there's a lot of people to
to kill as many people as you could. And what's the attraction of going for a cafe or going for a shopping mall? In my
opinion, it's an easy target and it's something that upsets our lifestyle. And what they want to do is create as much
havoc as they could. Since 911, after security was beefed up at government buildings and airports, militants have
turned to easier targets. In 2013, it was a luxurious shopping mall in Kenya. This summer, a tourist beach in Tunisia.
In Paris last night, more soft targets. So in New York today, police were flexing muscle, hoping to deter the same
thing from happening here. You know, less than 24 hours after attack in Paris, people are out living their
lives. Well, that's what New York is all about. We're resilient people and and although, you know, we've had things
happen here, you know, we forget and we move on.

The NFL announced that it would tighten security at its stadiums following the attacks in Paris that targeted places packed with people, known as soft targets . It's a sign of an evolving terrorist tactic and as, Erin Moriarty reports, some people think it's coming here.

Brief Summary

NFL increases security after Paris attacks, focusing on soft targets in cities.

Key points

Increased Security After Paris. The NFL announces heightened security measures at stadiums following the Paris attacks.
Soft Targets Under Threat. Experts discuss the evolving tactics of terrorism targeting soft targets like cafes and malls.

Episode highlights

Soft Targets Under ThreatExperts discuss the evolving tactics of terrorism targeting soft targets like cafes and malls.“It looks to be terrorism evolving. It looks to be the next generation.”1:11Nov 15, 2015

Episode quotes

We're going to be safe. We're going to be vigilant.

A statement on security measures post-Paris attacks

0:09WatchNov 15, 2015

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