New York City on Terrorism Watch After Osama Bin Laden Killing

CIA Director Leon Panetta says that al Qaida will "almost certainly" attempt to get revenge for the killing of Osama bin Laden, and thus, nowhere are security officials on higher alert than in New York City today. The New York Post reports that the NYPD "will pay special attention to subways, Wall Street, Times Square, the Empire State Building and other tourist attractions, as well as federal courthouses." Police Commissioner Ray Kelley kept last night's midnight shift on through this morning in order to keep an eye on rush hour, while sending a "directive" to his officers, "ordering his 35,000 cops to keep their eyes peeled."

"The death of Osama bin Laden is a welcome milestone for the friends and families of those killed on 9/11, and for all who remain tenaciously engaged in protecting New York from another attack," Kelly added.

"They are going to have to prove their bona fides and that they are still viable and they will do that in a violent way," said Rep. Gary Ackerman of Queens, a member of the House Foreign Relations Subcommitee on the Middle East, about al Qaeda. "They will act as boldly and belligerently as they can. They certainly have plans in place for some type of reaction."

Port Authority has increased police presence at the World Trade Center and all New York City airports, in addition to the George Washington Bridge, DNAinfo reports. "This response is not based on a current threat, but out of an abundance of caution until we have the chance to learn more," said Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward.

We'll update with security information as it becomes available.