May 22, 2026

he New York Police Department announced that it is training officers and buying equipment to counter weaponized drone threats during the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations.

The NYPD said Thursday that it is buying $6.5 million in drone mitigation equipment ahead of the events and giving counterterrorism officers special training.

She noted the proliferation of weaponized drones in the Ukraine and Iran wars and said that it is the one threat that “keeps me up at night.”

When asked whether there was a specific threat involving weaponized drones, Tisch declined to elaborate, but she said, “It would be a mistake to ignore the technology.”

The Justice Department is expected to issue new rules to allow local police departments to take down drones, which has largely been reserved for the FBI.

The World Cup is set to begin on June 11 in cities across North America. The championship match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City.

World Cup-related events are to be held in New York City, including in Rockefeller Center. The city is also set to host several America 250 celebrations during the July 4th weekend, including Macy’s annual fireworks display.

Found on mainstream news.