Feb. 7 (UPI) — There are no known threats to Super Bowl LVIII or Las Vegas, according to Department of Homeland Security head Alejandro Mayorkas, who said Wednesday that there is a multi-agency effort underway to ensure Americans are safe during the iconic sporting event.
“To be clear: there are no known, credible, specific threats to the Super Bowl or to Las Vegas at this time — but we are vigilant, and we are prepared,” Mayorkas said to reporters during a press conference held on Super Bowl Security Day in Las Vegas, Nev.
More than 30 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies have been involved in planning for the Super Bowl, which is a Special Event Assessment Rating event, over the last 18 months, officials said, with the Department of Homeland Security leading the federal efforts.
Some 385 Department of Homeland Security personnel have been deployed to Las Vegas where they are providing services from venue, cyber and infrastructure security assessments to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives detection as well as intellectual property enforcement and real-time situation awareness reporting, they said.
U.S. Secret Agent in Charge Karon Ransom added that there will also be some 750 personnel from various federal agencies assisting local law enforcement both virtually and on site.
“Everyone has a role to play in making sure Super Bowl 58 is secure,” she said. “So, please report any public safety concerns to law enforcement even suspicious behavior. And as noted, if you see something, say something.”
As part of security efforts, the NFL announced Wednesday that it was joining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Secure Our World cybersecurity awareness campaign that encourages people and businesses to take steps to protect themselves online.
The Department of Homeland Security also announced that it was working with ride-share company Lyft to train drivers to detect and prevent human trafficking.
During the press conference, Mayorkas, who survived a House impeachment vote earlier this week, explained the cause of the stoppage in play during the AFC Championship game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs about halfway through the first quarter late last month was due to an unidentified drone that had flown over M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
He called it an “administrative timeout,” one that underscored the efforts they are putting in to secure the safety of the 65,000 people expected to attend the Super Bowl on Sunday when the Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers.
“It does not require much imagination to understand the significant threat such an incident could pose,” he said.
Officials added that all NFL events surrounding the Super Bowl will be drone-free zones.
