The son of a New York mob boss has given Islamic State a stark warning, saying if they are planning any attacks in New York, they will have to contend with the Sicilian mafia. The notorious crime syndicate say they want to do their bit to protect locals.

Giovanni Gambino, the son of a key figure in the Gambino mob organization, says the mafia is in a much better position than security bodies, such as the FBI or Homeland Security, to give New Yorkers the protection they need. 

"They often act too late, or fail to see a complete picture of what's happening due to a lack of 'human intelligence,'" he said in an interview with NBC News, as cited by Reuters, adding that the mafia's knowledge of individual movements and interaction with locals gives it the upper hand, even compared to the latest surveillance technologies. 

Gambino, who is trying to carve out a career as a Hollywood screenwriter, says that, following the horrendous terror attacks in Paris on November 13, protection is more important than ever.