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| No indication of threat to US after Brussels attacks, officials say | No indication of threat to US after Brussels attacks, officials say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US officials have said they are not seeing indications of a terrorist threat to the United States after devastating attacks on a Brussels metro station and airport killed at least 34 people and wounded more than 120 on Tuesday. | US officials have said they are not seeing indications of a terrorist threat to the United States after devastating attacks on a Brussels metro station and airport killed at least 34 people and wounded more than 120 on Tuesday. |
| Related: Brussels explosions: multiple casualties after airport and metro attacks – live | Related: Brussels explosions: multiple casualties after airport and metro attacks – live |
| Speaking from Cuba, Barack Obama pledged solidarity with “our ally Belgium”. | Speaking from Cuba, Barack Obama pledged solidarity with “our ally Belgium”. |
| “The world must unite,” Obama said. “We must be together, regardless of nationality, race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.” | “The world must unite,” Obama said. “We must be together, regardless of nationality, race or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.” |
| It was not immediately clear how many Americans were caught up in the attacks. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said in an official release three missionaries, all from Utah, were seriously injured. | |
| The missionaries were named as Richard Norby, 66, Joseph Empey, 20, and Mason Wells, 19. | |
| The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is tasked with protecting the US from domestic attack, urged public vigilance and held out the prospect of urging different security routines in line with any changes to intelligence. | The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is tasked with protecting the US from domestic attack, urged public vigilance and held out the prospect of urging different security routines in line with any changes to intelligence. |
| “The Department of Homeland Security is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Brussels and we remain in contact with our counterparts in the region,” press secretary Marsha Catron said. “DHS will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people.” | “The Department of Homeland Security is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Brussels and we remain in contact with our counterparts in the region,” press secretary Marsha Catron said. “DHS will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people.” |
| Intelligence sharing between federal, state, local and European law enforcement would continue, Catron said. | Intelligence sharing between federal, state, local and European law enforcement would continue, Catron said. |
| The AMAQ news agency reported that Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks. | The AMAQ news agency reported that Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks. |
| While US officials held off on attributing responsibility, a congressman on the intelligence committee, Democrat Adam Schiff of California, said they bore “all the hallmarks of an Isis-inspired or Isis-coordinated attack”. | While US officials held off on attributing responsibility, a congressman on the intelligence committee, Democrat Adam Schiff of California, said they bore “all the hallmarks of an Isis-inspired or Isis-coordinated attack”. |
| Schiff’s phrasing conflated a concerted assault from the Islamic State and less-sophisticated attacks of opportunity from sympathizers. | Schiff’s phrasing conflated a concerted assault from the Islamic State and less-sophisticated attacks of opportunity from sympathizers. |
| On Friday, Belgian law enforcement shot and captured Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in November’s terrorist assault on Paris, after a months-long manhunt. | On Friday, Belgian law enforcement shot and captured Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in November’s terrorist assault on Paris, after a months-long manhunt. |
| The ability of the culprits to pull off a coordinated attack even as Belgium remained on an elevated threat level raised immediate questions about the strength of security perimeters around transportation hubs like airports and rail stations – whether, in an age of terrorism, they represent a contemporary Maginot Line that determined attackers will defeat. | The ability of the culprits to pull off a coordinated attack even as Belgium remained on an elevated threat level raised immediate questions about the strength of security perimeters around transportation hubs like airports and rail stations – whether, in an age of terrorism, they represent a contemporary Maginot Line that determined attackers will defeat. |
| Patrick Skinner, a former CIA and law enforcement official, said expanding or bolstering security perimeters had utility, but primarily for keeping an attacker off a plane or a train, not preventing a mass-casualty attack. | |
| Determined attackers “can pick wherever the security is kicking in and that’s where they’re going to hit”, he said, arguing for a more active security paradigm. | |
| “The model of ‘raid early, raid often’ is going to be needed,” said Skinner, now with the Soufan Group, a security consultancy. “If you can get a warrant, whatever country you’re in, you hit them, keep them off balance. If they’re running, they’re not shooting and if they’re hiding, they’re not shooting.” | |
| Skinner cautioned that raiding could lead to more attacks, “but they could be hurried attacks”. | |
| “There are no good answers right now,” he said. | |
| Related: US presidential candidates respond to attacks in Brussels | |
| In the US, the most visible changes to security at public locales will likely come not from federal instruction but from the initiatives of local police and airports, the latter of which has responsibility for site security. According to security experts, there will not be wholesale shifts in security procedures at transit hubs, but instead a varied approach depending on credible threat reports. | In the US, the most visible changes to security at public locales will likely come not from federal instruction but from the initiatives of local police and airports, the latter of which has responsibility for site security. According to security experts, there will not be wholesale shifts in security procedures at transit hubs, but instead a varied approach depending on credible threat reports. |
| Police in Chicago, Washington DC and New York City said that while there was no known threat directed at the cities, they would ramp up police presence, especially at airports, public transit systems and other high-profile locations. | Police in Chicago, Washington DC and New York City said that while there was no known threat directed at the cities, they would ramp up police presence, especially at airports, public transit systems and other high-profile locations. |
| Washington’s Metro transit police said there would be an increased presence though there is no “known, specific or credible threat” to the transit system. | Washington’s Metro transit police said there would be an increased presence though there is no “known, specific or credible threat” to the transit system. |
| The Port Authority, which manages New York-area airports, bridges, tunnels and trains, said it was stepping up security at such locations and was also conducting bag checks on Path, the commuter train between the city and New Jersey. | The Port Authority, which manages New York-area airports, bridges, tunnels and trains, said it was stepping up security at such locations and was also conducting bag checks on Path, the commuter train between the city and New Jersey. |
| It was also “employing high visibility anti terrorist patrols on the Path system” and at the World Trade Center site. | It was also “employing high visibility anti terrorist patrols on the Path system” and at the World Trade Center site. |
| New York City police were in contact with international partners and the FBI. While the department waited to learn more, it had deployed additional counterterrorism resources in the city. | New York City police were in contact with international partners and the FBI. While the department waited to learn more, it had deployed additional counterterrorism resources in the city. |
| “These teams have been deployed to crowded areas and transit locations around the city out of an abundance of caution to provide police presence and public reassurance as we closely follow the developing situation overseas,” said Stephen Davis, the New York police department’s deputy commissioner of public information. | “These teams have been deployed to crowded areas and transit locations around the city out of an abundance of caution to provide police presence and public reassurance as we closely follow the developing situation overseas,” said Stephen Davis, the New York police department’s deputy commissioner of public information. |
| Catron, the DHS press secretary, urged the American public to take an active role in spotting suspicious activity, repeating the “if you see something, say something” mantra familiar to New Yorkers from the years after 9/11. | Catron, the DHS press secretary, urged the American public to take an active role in spotting suspicious activity, repeating the “if you see something, say something” mantra familiar to New Yorkers from the years after 9/11. |