NYPD Increases Security In Wake Of London Attack; Tells Officers To Fire At Vehicle-Ramming Attackers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD increased security at high-profile locations across the city Wednesday in the wake of a deadly terror incident in London.

PHOTOS: UK Parliament Attack

The department has redeployed its long-gun teams to the British Consulate, United Nations Mission as well as Grand Central Terminal and City Hall.

"We immediately moved and redeployed some of our Critical Response Command personnel to UK locations, as well as other city agencies around the city," NYPD Counterterrorism Chief Jim Waters said. "You'll see a larger presence of the dogs at these locations as well as the CRC officers armed with the long guns."

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, commuters at Grand Central will see the usual protection on duty Wednesday night, as well as extra officers with long rifles and machine guns.

The added security at Grand Central was not a surprise to New Yorkers, who said they would expect nothing less.

"It's what we've gotten used to," one man said.

"A precaution that's the right thing to do," another said.

Officers also got a go-ahead, more clearly stated than ever before, to fire on any moving vehicle being used as a ramming instrument of terror.

"We need to reinforce and tell them that this is an OK thing to do, and you don't even have to give it a second thought," said NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill.

Meanwhile, the attack caused alarm in New Yorkers, especially with those with ties to England – such as Tea and Sympathy owner Nicky Terry.

"Immediately, you go up onto your Facebook and make sure everybody's OK," Terry said.

The NYPD said it is monitoring the situation, but said there is no information linking the London attack to New York City at this point.

"Everybody in New York needs to know that the NYPD, along with their federal partners, work hard. This is something that we're working on all the time to keep everybody safe, so all of our resources are going into this," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Meanwhile, NYPD Intelligence Bureau Chief Tom Galati weighed in on the possible inspiration for the London violence.

"This attack is exactly what was put out in a recent edition of Rumiyah magazine which encourages individuals to drive into crowds of people: Galati said. "Exit the vehicle with a weapon and try and do an attack with that weapon."

Nassau County Police are also intensifying patrols at all governmental buildings, mass transit, critical infrastructure, houses of worship and at significant public events.

Intelligence Bureau Chief Thomas Galati offered a possible source of inspiration for the violence.

"This attack is exactly what was put out in a recent edition of Rumiyah magazine, which actually encourages individuals to drive into crowds of people, exit their vehicle with another weapon and then try and do an attack with that weapon," he said.

Four people, including a police officer and attacker, were killed in incidents on the Westminster Bridge and outside Parliament on Monday. More than 20 others are injured.

Among the heroes who rushed in to save lives was a New York City-born member of Parliament – Tobias Ellwood. His hands, sleeves and face were left stained with blood.

Once a captain in the British army, Ellwood's brother was killed by the bombings in Bali in 2002.

The new order to shoot vehicle-ramming attackers also comes after similar attacks in Nice, France; at Ohio State University; in Berlin; and in Jerusalem.

In:
• New York City Police Department
• Rich Lamb