(Reuters) – The United States is increasing security at government buildings in Washington and other cities because of continuing terrorist threats and last week’s attack on the Canadian parliament, the Homeland Security Department said on Tuesday.
A U.S. official said there had been no credible information about any specific plot against a U.S. target, but many calls to attack the United States have been issued, including on social media, by supporters of groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new measures followed a stream of threats from militant groups which U.S. agencies have been monitoring for months.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement: “Given world events, prudence dictates a heightened vigilance in the protection of U.S. government installations and our personnel.”
He said: “The reasons for this action are self-evident: the continued public calls by terrorist organizations for attacks on the homeland and elsewhere, including against law enforcement and other government officials, and the acts of violence targeted at government personnel and installations in Canada and elsewhere recently.”
Johnson said he had ordered extra security at “various U.S. Government buildings in Washington DC and other major cities and locations around the country.”
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