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Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony Will Be 'Perfectly Safe,' Mayor Says

By DNAinfo Staff on November 30, 2010 8:47am

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MIDTOWN — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that New Yorkers have nothing to be concerned about at Tuesday night's ceremony at Rockefeller Center in the wake of an attempted bombing at a tree lighting in Oregon last week.

"I'm going to be at the tree lighting and I'm going to feel perfectly safe," Bloomberg told the New York Daily News.

"I don't think you should worry about it."

A similar ceremony in Portland was the target of a Somali-born teenager’s bomb plot, which was thwarted by the FBI last week. Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, tried to set off a car bomb at the crowded Oregon tree lighting, but the bomb he tried to set off was a fake planted by federal agents. He was arrested on scene.

A general view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on Dec. 2, 2009.
A general view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on Dec. 2, 2009.
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Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

New York is accustomed to being a potential target for terrorism and is prepared, the mayor said.

"Whenever there is a large collection of people getting together, a large group, we always ramp up security," the News quoted Bloomberg as saying.

"We've been doing that for years, and particularly now."

The tree lighting ceremony takes place on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. with two hours of musical performances in Rockefeller Center.

Mayor Bloomberg assured New Yorkers that they will be safe at Tuesday night's tree lighting in Rockefeller Center.
Mayor Bloomberg assured New Yorkers that they will be safe at Tuesday night's tree lighting in Rockefeller Center.
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DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel