The nation’s top prosecutor and the head of the FBI sought Thursday to reassure Americans that officials are doing all they can to prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and to encourage them not to let fear dictate their actions in the wake of deadly violence in Paris.
“We are not aware of any credible threat here of a Paris-type attack and we have seen no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States,” said FBI Director James Comey.
He confirmed that investigators are aware of threats circulated online by individuals claiming to be part of the Islamic State, including a video that praises the attacks in Paris while featuring previously used footage of a person preparing to detonate a suicide bomb in Times Square, but noted much of the media is only propaganda and not a substantiated threat.
“Instead, the threat here focuses primarily on troubled souls in America who are being inspired or enabled online to do something violent for ISIL,” said Mr. Comey, referencing a nickname for the Islamic State.
A series of closely coordinated attacks conducted by three teams of terrorists killed 129 people and injured hundreds in the French capital Nov. 13.
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have gone into overdrive during the past week, ramping up security protocol as a result of the attacks. But Mr. Comey and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urged Americans not to let fear of an attack stop them from going about their daily lives.
“We need to say ’We will not let our actions be overtaken by fear. We will not allow merchants of violence to rob us of our most precious ideals,” Ms. Lynch said in a briefing Thursday at the Department of Justice.
Mr. Comey also encouraged individuals to be vigilant and to report any troubling and suspicious behavior.
“Do not let fear become disabling. That is what the terrorists want,” he said. “They want you to imagine them in the shadows. They want you to imagine them as something greater than they are.”
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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