With the recent terror attacks, especially last week’s attack in Paris, the world has been on high alert. Extra security in airports, train stations, and in high volume areas has been put in to effect across the globe. Nations have taken extra precautions to help ensure the safety of their people.

Days after the attack on Paris, which had the world watching the outbreak of violence and the hostage situation, ISIS released a new video. This video starts out with a man praying and then assembling a bomb and strapping it to himself covering it with a jacket.

Throughout the video, clips of Times Square and Herald Square appear on the screen. A portion of the video also is the French president addressing the recent attack on Paris and the man pulling the pin out of the bomb with the screen going black.

As someone from New York, I took a particular interest in this video being released after the recent attack on Paris. My thoughts ranged from thinking of flying home to New York City for the holidays, my family who all predominately live in the greater New York City area, and flashbacks of 9/11.

This is seen by the world as an attack on western civilization and the way of life in America and other westernized countries; however, when I hear of this I see it as much more. To me this is an attack on my home.

New York City is one of the most influential and important cities in the world, and thus has become a focal point of terrorist attacks. This is because New York City is seen as the epitome of the western lifestyle.

There have been numerous attacks on the city and even more threats because of what the world sees New York City as. Even though this happens more often than we would like to admit or know about, this time this threat seems different.

This time because there was just a successful attack on Paris, we have seen this can be accomplished on a city similar to New York City. Now that there is a video out there saying that we are on their radar and we could be next makes the fact that there could be attack a lot more eminent to us.

The possibility of the threats made in that video are very real. New York city is the destination of many, especially at this time of the year. With the holiday season among us it is a very realistic time for an attack.

For the time being we as New Yorkers will now be aware and cautious wherever we go. We will be alert at all times, and pray for the safety of our beloved city.