The New York Police Department (NYPD) plans to station undercover police officers in screenings of the upcoming film Joker over concerns that violence could break out.
“This is 360-degree policing approach to ensure safety for ticket buyers in their seats, as well as on the streets,” a law enforcement official told Deadline. The officers will be stationed beginning with Thursday previews of the films and during the opening weekend.
‘Joker’ Threat Concerns Has NYPD Taking Undercover Precautions For Opening Weekend https://t.co/ctaFEEZKJa pic.twitter.com/tOrpx5U8Ol
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 1, 2019
An NYPD spokesperson stressed, “There are no specific or credible threats at this time and these events will continue to be closely monitored. Any additional personnel will be deployed as needed. Members of the public are encouraged to help police in the shared responsibility of public safety. If you see something, say something by calling 911.”
Several movie theaters have banned masks at screenings of the movie, which follows the violent rise of Batman’s nemesis.
The security precautions follow the 2012 mass shooting at a Colorado screening of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises, which left 12 dead and 70 wounded.
Last week, the U.S. military warned service members of the potential for a mass shooting at showings of Joker, according to notices from the Army, particularly pointing to the possibility of extremists trying to replicate the 2012 attack.
“Posts on social media have made reference to involuntary celibate (‘incel’) extremists replicating” the shooting “at screenings of the Joker movie at nationwide theaters,” according to the notice from Army Materiel Command, which was sent to service members in an email to service members last month, Gizmodo first reported.
The solo feature film of Batman’s greatest villain is described as a gritty character study of how the Joker came to be.
