Homeland Security Says US Should Look Out For Possible Terrorist Attacks

WASHINGTON, January 29 (Sputnik) — The United States should stay on alert for possible acts of terrorism from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) similar to the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine carried out in France, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said Thursday.

“I will not try to surmise the mindset of AQAP leaders. I do believe that the attacks in Europe posed the cause for the further attacks in the West by these groups, means that here in the United States we have to be vigilant in looking out for similar attacks…which is one of the reasons we’ve made the enhancements in homeland security that we’ve made in the last several weeks and months,” Johnson said, answering whether it is more likely that the United States will see attacks similar to Paris massacre.

Johnson added that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should stay on alert and cooperate with major chiefs and sheriffs around the country to share information.

“I have a lot of faith in this country. We have agencies, systems in place for emergency response, for disaster response,” Johnson said.

It is important for Homeland Security to be straight with the public about the situation that the United States is facing without scaring people and discouraging them from flying or going to public gatherings, secretary added.

On Wednesday Johnson met with Arizona law enforcement officials to oversee security operations in preparation for the annual National Football League Super Bowl championship that will attract more than 100,000 fans and visitors to the Phoenix, Arizona, area on February 1, according to DHS statement.

Homeland Security has taken “tremendous precautions” preparing for the event, Johnson said, screening people who come into the stadium where the game will be held, sending additional officers to Phoenix International Airport and supporting open-source social media monitoring for situational awareness.

Many countries hiked security measures after January terrorist attack on a French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the hostage taking in a kosher supermarket in Paris, which resulted in 17 deaths.