DHS increases security at federal buildings over terror concerns

The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it has increased security at federal buildings across the county, citing terror threats and recent attacks in Canada and elsewhere.

The announcement was made by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who said Federal Protective Service officers are providing the increased security.

Officials said the move was a “precautionary” step and not made in response to any specific threat. But they cited last week’s violence in Canada and Islamic State threats. Additional security will be put in place in Washington, other major U.S. cities and unnamed locations across the country.

A senior U.S. official added: “The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Nusrah Front have both publicly threatened to retaliate against the West. We are taking all necessary measures to protect U.S. interests overseas and at home.”

Johnson also said the increased security will move among locations and will be “continually re-evaluated.”

he changes follows three such attacks last week.

On Wednesday a Canadian soldier was killed when alleged gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed the county’s national war memorial and fatally shot a soldier, then entered the Canadian Parliament before being killed by police.

The attack in Ottawa came two days after a man described as an being an Islamic State “inspired terrorist” ran over two soldiers in a parking lot in Quebec, killing one and injuring the other before being shot to death by police.

On Thursday, Zale Thompson, a reclusive Muslim convert who ranted online against America, attacked two New York City police officers on a busy Queens street before being shot down by two uninjured officers.

Thompson has no clear ties to international extremists, and no motive has been established. But city police Commissioner William Bratton is calling the incident a terror attack.

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