Security was ramped up Tuesday at the downtown Los Angeles federal courthouse by order of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
In his directive ordering the Federal Protective Service to enhance security at various U.S. government buildings in the Southland and elsewhere, Jeh Johnson did not specify a threat, but called the action a “precautionary step” prompted by “world events.”
Calls requesting comment from the U.S. Marshal Service, which is in charge of courthouse security, and the Los Angeles Police Department were not immediately answered.
“We are taking this action as a precautionary step, to safeguard U.S. government personnel and facilities, and the visitors to those facilities,” Johnson said in a statement. “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.”
“Given world events, prudence dictates a heightened vigilance in the protection of U.S. government installations and our personnel,” Johnson said.
Johnson urged state and local governments, and their law enforcement personnel, “to be equally vigilant, particularly in guarding against potential small-scale attacks by a lone offender or a small group of individuals.”
“Likewise, we continually urge the public at large to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to appropriate authorities,” he said.
— City News Service