Following some ominous posts that appear to depict a threatening figure with drones and other weapons in a stadium familiar to Nassau’s T20 Cricket World Cup venue, the county is requesting a no-fly zone in the vicinity of the event.
An image posted online included the words “Nassau Stadium,” along with the date of an upcoming match between India and Pakistan, and seemingly threatened spectators with drones, a rifle, and a pipe bomb.
In response to these alarming posts, Nassau Police have requested a no-fly zone over the area from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which would also preclude drones.
Last year, Nassau County was selected to host eight matches during one of Cricket’s main events that takes place every two years, and it built a 34,000-seat stadium to accommodate the event’s expected capacity. The newly unveiled Nassau County International Cricket Stadium is located at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow and will host the cup from June 1 to June 12, marking the first time ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World matches will be played in the United States.
County officials reported that they have been preparing security and health care measures for six months.
“When you got a game and a crowd as big as this, everything is credible,” Ryder said at a Mineola press conference on Wednesday.
While Ryder did not address how legitimate the online threats are, he detailed the strict security precautions his department was taking, including banning drones in the public park where the matches are being held, not permitting bags inside the stadium, and not allowing anyone near the venue without a ticket.
“You will not be able to hang out in the park,” Ryder said. “This is not a spectator sport from outside the venue. It’s all from inside the venue.”
In addition to the potential no-fly zone and other regulation, Nassau police will also reportedly be adding 100 patrol officers to streets during what officials are calling the largest security operation in the county’s history.
