Fans heading to either the Cowboys’ regular-season finale or the upcoming Cotton Bowl Classic should be prepared for heightened security measures at AT&T Stadium, the host venue for both events.
Arlington police are reportedly deploying additional resources at the Cowboys’ home stadium following the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more just hours before the Sugar Bowl.
The Cowboys host the Washington Commanders this Sunday. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns then square off on Jan. 10 in a highly-anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal matchup.
“As a precaution, we will be bringing in additional police resources into the entertainment district for both the Cowboys game this Sunday and for the Cotton Bowl next Friday,” said Leo Daniels, the deputy chief of Arlington’s police event management unit. “We also will be closely evaluating our areas where we typically see high values of pedestrians making their ways to and from the stadium as they move around, and will adjust resources if necessary for safety and improved efficiency.”
Authorities said that they are not aware of any specific threats but plan to beef up security for both games. Apart from additional personnel, though, no drastic alteration to the venue’s normal security plan is expected.
“I can assure the public that our law enforcement community is actively looking at New Orleans’ situation to see if there’s any lesson that we can learn,” added Arlington mayor Jim Ross.
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Last week’s attack in New Orleans occurred on Bourbon Street, about a mile from the Caesars Superdome. A man later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Houston thought to have been inspired by ISIS, rammed a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers and then opened fire on pedestrians and police officers before being shot and killed by responding police.
While investigators believe Jabbar acted alone, a recent report from Reuters confirms that law enforcement officials are wary of a possible copycat attack near similar high-visibility events.
“Fans should expect to see a more visible police presence when they are moving from the parking lots to the stadium,” explained Tim Ciesco of Arlington Police Department media relations.
Those attending either game are encouraged to call 911 if they see anything suspicious.
“Citizens are our best line of defense,” Daniels said per the Dallas Morning News. “They’re letting us know what’s going on, and we want to be able to adjust.”
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