Contained in the Secret Service’s secret NYC lair as they shield 142 world leaders in the course of the UN Gen Meeting

This coming week, Patrick J. Freaney is a very powerful bodyguard on the planet.

Freaney, the Particular Agent in control of the US Secret Service New York area workplace, and his crew will probably be accountable for 142 of essentially the most highly effective leaders on the planet and their spouses in the course of the 79th session of the UN Normal Meeting.

The high-pressure week in Manhattan begins and ends in an enormous, airplane-like hangar the place a fleet of 500 state-of-the-art SUVs geared up with various levels of safety techniques — tinted home windows, emergency lights, heavy-duty engines and brakes amongst different accoutrements — are deployed to ferry round dignitaries and their households to the UN and everywhere in the metropolis.

Freaney took The Put up for a sneak peak — however the location of the logistics hub is stored as secret because the company that makes use of it. All we’re allowed to say is it’s in one of many 5 boroughs.

“We’re with them 24 hours a day,” Freaney mentioned of the world leaders who come from international locations as various as Malawi to Mongolia. “The Secret Service is accountable for them on US soil, wherever they determine to go — to a restaurant, to the theater, anyplace you possibly can consider.

“We’ve acquired 142 heads of state and 71 spouses in order that’s 200 protectees we’re watching over in a metropolis of 8 million. We mitigate threat the most effective we will.”

There’s even a “decon” room for automobiles that get soiled and want a fast wash.

Freaney’s conscious that extra eyes are on the Secret Service today due to the current tried assassinations of former President Trump.

However of extra concern to Freaney and his crew are the protests that happen yearly outdoors the UN – and this yr anti-Israel demonstrations are seemingly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives this week as tensions within the Center East are intensifying and simply as most international locations backed a UN decision Wednesday that units a deadline for Israel to finish its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory amid rising worldwide criticism of Israel.

The Secret Service has to steadiness their safety of high-risk targets like Netanyahu whereas defending First Modification rights as properly.

“The stress hooked up to those conditions are actual,” mentioned Freaney, who first labored out of the New York area workplace in 2000. “We attempt to be sure that occasions all over the world aren’t given a stage right here. In a world risk atmosphere it’s essential to have a deal with on each international and home threats. You want to pay attention to the problems.”

The Secret Service works together with different regulation enforcement together with the NYPD, FDNY, the FBI and FEMA, to handle the mission.

“It’s not a simple job and it requires nice coordination,” Freaney mentioned. “You must take into accounts every part going to the world however we’re utterly dedicated to it.”

The UN is comprised of 193 member states in complete.