UN Tightens Security Ahead of Leaders’ Summit in New York

When the high-level meeting of the General Assembly takes place from 22 to 30 September — with over 150 world leaders in attendance — the UN will go into lockdown with extra-tight security.

The heightened measures follow a series of violent incidents in the United States, including the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the fire-bombing of Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence in Pennsylvania, and the murders of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Asked about security preparations on 15 September, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters: “The security within the UN complex during the General Assembly sessions is as tight as it can be. We are in close contact with host country authorities, the US Secret Service, the State Department, and of course, the NYPD.”

Diplomats and delegates traditionally bypass security checks inside the UN building. Asked if new restrictions would be introduced this year, Dujarric said: “I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, the UN’s Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) issued new rules on 17 September, requiring accredited journalists to be escorted in restricted areas, including the Conference and General Assembly buildings. Media pass holders are barred from the second floors of both venues.

Security concerns are not new. In 1964, the UN headquarters came under its only direct terrorist attack when a 3.5-inch bazooka was fired at the Secretariat building during Che Guevara’s speech to the Assembly. The rocket missed, crashing into the East River.

Last year, the UN also declared its premises a “No Drone Zone” in response to the growing use of high-tech weapons.

Next week, the streets surrounding the UN will be filled with police officers, Secret Service agents, UN security staff, bomb-sniffing dogs, and ambulances on standby. In previous years, even a chaplain was kept on hand by the Secret Service to perform last rites in case of an assassination attempt.

Despite such measures, history records occasional breaches: from hecklers in the Assembly who later rose to ministerial rank in their countries, to an activist in the 1980s who briefly seized the podium during Sri Lanka’s address.

As one former foreign minister quipped after such an intrusion was cut short, “Mr President, I want to thank the previous speaker for keeping his speech short.” The Assembly, used to long-winded statements, burst into laughter.