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'NYPD missiles would not have stopped 9/11': Mayor Bloomberg casts doubt on police chief's claims that cops can shoot down planes over New York

The 70-year-old police chief said he could not rely on the federal government alone to respond to a terrorist attack.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Mr Kelly said that after September 11, he set about creating the NYPD's own counter-terrorism unit that is prepared for many scenarios, including bringing down a plane.

Mr Kelly was asked if he's satisfied that he had dealt with the potential threat of a terrorist attack from an aircraft.

He responded: 'Well, it’s something that’s on our radar screen. I mean, in an extreme situation, we would have some means to take down a plane.'

Asked if the NYPD itself had the means to bring down a plane, he said: 'Yes, I prefer not to get into details, but this would be in a very extreme situation.'

Mr Kelly refused to give details of whether the NYPD has surface-to-air missiles or armed helicopters with the capability of bringing down a plane.

Police sources told the New York Post that Mr Kelly was referring to a weapon that can be mounted to almost any police helicopter.

The NYPD reportedly has had a Barrett .50 caliber rifle, which is capable of bringing down planes, for the past four years.

The weapon is stored in an NYPD safe and only deployed in high-risk situations, such as when the President is in the city.

The revelation that the NYPD has the means to bring down a plane comes as the department is facing criticism for its handling of protesters this weekend.

Video footage from the 'Occupy Wall Street' demonstrations apparently shows heavy-handed police officers spraying what look to be peaceful female protesters with mace, despite no obvious provocation.

VOTE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2041882/Mayor-Bloomberg-casts-
doubt-police-chiefs-claims-cops-shoot-planes-New-York.html

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