U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials, monitoring the Paris attacks, said Friday that there is no known credible threat against the United States.
A DHS official told TheWrap the department “remains in contact with our counterparts in the region,” adding, “We will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the American people. DHS and FBI routinely share information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners, and continually evaluate the level of protection we provide at federal facilities.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is also monitoring the events in Paris and the U.S. Embassy in the French capital is working to account for any U.S. citizens involved, a State Department official said on Friday.
Kerry is currently in Vienna, Austria, for international talks on ways to end the war in Syria.
In addition, President Barack Obama called the attacks in Paris “heartbreaking,” adding that the U.S. stands together with France in the fight against terrorism.
At least 100 people are dead dead following a series of what appear to be coordinated attacks across Paris late Friday, according to French police.
The situation on the ground is still developing, but multiple media outlets are reporting three explosions took place near France’s main sports stadium, which prompted the evacuation of French president Francois Hollande during a soccer match between France and Germany.
“This is an attack not just on Paris. It’s an attack not just on the people of France. But this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share,” Obama said in a televised address. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice.”
Obama stressed that his office did not yet know all the details of the attacks, so the U.S. would not speculate who may have been behind the attack, adding he’s been in contact with French officials to communicate condolences to the families of those killed and the U.S. have offered full support to them.
“This is a heart-breaking situation, and obviously those of us here in the United States know what it’s like. We’ve gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves, and whenever these kinds of attacks happen, we’ve always been able to count on the French people to stand with us,” Obama said. “They have been an extraordinary counter-terrorism partner, and we intend to bear with them in that same fashion.”
President Hollande also remarked on the tragic events saying his country has “mobilized all the possible forces for neutralization of terrorists.”
He called on his nation to “show unity” as he announced a state of emergency, closing the country’s borders to keep the perpetrators from escaping.