Emergency alert used in suspected NY bomber arrest spotlights tech comms
Wireless Emergency System notifications assist federal authorities in communicating with the general public. What role do they play in national security threats? Here’s the scoop.
Smart phone owners in the New York City area received an emergency blast to their phones at 8 a.m. on Monday.
The message read:
WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9–1–1 if seen.
Many residents saw the text-like blast as an example of how authorities plan to react in the event of an active terrorist on the loose in a well-populated area.
Rahami—who has since been detained in New Jersey—was wanted at the time the message was sent in connection with Saturday’s bombings in New York and New Jersey.
The New York Times reports:
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