Mayor Garcetti: No Credible Terror Threat Against LA
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti assured Angelenos Tuesday that there was no credible terror threat against the city.
Terror bombings killed at least 34 people and wounded 250 others in Brussels, Belgium early in the morning.
Flanked by police chief Charlie Beck and other law enforcement officials at City Hall, the mayor said police will continue to make a "show of force" to send a message that the city is prepared to respond, and potential attackers "should think twice" about targeting Southern California.
He also asked everyone to be vigilant - if you see something, say something "because in most cases, attacks that have been thwarted often times because of the participation of everyday people," Garcetti said.
The mayor is urging everyone to get the iWatchLA app, which makes it easy to report anything suspicious.
#LAPD encourages LosAngeles to trust your instincts. If it doesn't look, smell or sound right, report it. #iWatchLA pic.twitter.com/hhmDs5UQcB
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 22, 2016
Beck reiterated that the LAPD wants to have a "high visibility" to reassure the public and deter potential attackers. "We want to make sure our critical infrastructure is safe, and we want to make sure the specific targets have police coverage. And we are doing that. You will see an increased police presence at all these locations," he said.
Beck posted the following message on Twitter:
#Terrorism is a battle between GOOD and evil. It is the GOOD in America that will keep us safe. #LAPD
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) March 22, 2016
Local FBI official David Bowdich said the FBI and the region's joint terrorism task force are taking "extraordinary measures" to support foreign partners and to ensure that there are no U.S.-based connections to the attacks in Brussels.
Salam Al-Marayati is president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. "The main message we have to ISIS is: You're not only an enemy to America; You're an enemy to Islam," he said.