Fireworks visitors face gauntlet of security

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - The NYPD says it will have a "robust" counterterrorism presence at the 4th of July fireworks event over the East River on Tuesday night.

Visitors will be subjected to several layers of security just to get to an area to watch the display.  They include bag checks at each of the 15 entry points in Manhattan.   Police warn that no large bags or backpacks will be allowed into the viewing areas.

Officers at the checkpoints will have portable radiation detection equipment attached to their gun belts.  The NYPD will also deploy larger radiation detection machines inside the viewing areas.

There will also be a "long gun" counter-terrorism critical response team at each entry point.

Bomb detecting or so-called "vapor wake" dogs will also be in position to try to detect the potentially dangerous bomb vapors on people entering the viewing areas.  The NYPD bomb squad will also have teams deployed across the entire city.

There are several hundred cameras in the area that security personnel will be monitoring throughout the event.

One additional layer of security that will also be deployed this year is sand-filled trucks across roads to block a vehicle from plowing into large crowds that have gathered for the event. %INLINE%