(WTNH) — Local law enforcement in Connecticut are on alert following Friday’s attacks in Paris.
Right now, there are no specific or credible threats to Connecticut or the United States, but local police departments such as, New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport are asking officers to be watchful and vigilant. They announced their departments will be keeping a closer watch, just in case.
“This is policing fear,” said Officer David Hartman of the New Haven Police Department. “People need to know that the patrol division of the department is out there. They’re checking critical infrastructure on a more regular basis.”
National security experts say since the attacks in Paris were very sophisticated and took a lot of planning, people in the United States don’t need to worry about random acts of terrorism here. Even if you aren’t seeing any major changes locally after the attacks, there will be consequences worldwide.
HPD has a detective permanently embedded in the JTTF. We are watching- no justified threat in HTFD.
— D/C Foley (@LtFoley) November 13, 2015
“France is going to feel compelled to do something in Syria if in fact this is ISIS,” said Matthew Schmidt, Assistant Professor of National Security and Political Science at the University of New Haven. “The United States is basically throwing in behind France. You have Britain that will follow in and you have Russia already there, so this plays right into ISIS’s strategy of creating an Armageddon scenario in Syria.”
“In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France, all officers are reminded to remain vigilant while on and off duty, especially around transportation hubs and areas where large groups of people gather,” said Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett. “While there are no specific or credible known threats to Bridgeport, or Connecticut, at this time, the sad reality is that radicalized individuals may take actions similar to those in Paris at any place and at any time. Never before has law enforcement’s role been so critical in identifying and thwarting potential terrorist action in our Homeland.”
Experts say now the intelligence community has a better idea of what to look for and can be better prepared going forward.
