US Agencies Beef Up Security At Los Angeles Airport After Alerts On ISIS Attack On US Soil

Security has been tightened in Los Angeles and other locations of Southern California, including its airports after Intelligence reports hinted a fresh wave of ISIS- attacks, according to federal authorities. The FBI has taken up the investigation of the threat.

Viable Threat

According to police, a known threat to Los Angeles International Airport has been confirmed, though it did not say it was a new one or something associated with Islamic State. Investigations started as soon as intercepted communication and intelligence information revealed a plot targeting parts of California, reported CNN. The Transportation Security Administration or TSA alerted local law enforcement agencies despite threat not being confined to aviation. There was no immediate comment from the FBI or Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

Two-Man Patrols

Los Angeles is already using two-man police patrols as a precaution against lone wolf attacks. FBI Director Jim Comey has stated that investigations are on in all the 50 states to trace alleged ISIS sympathisers. In the past few months, security has been enhanced in airports and random searches have been stepped up on passengers and carry-on luggage in all flights bound for the U.S., according to a spokesman of the Department of Homeland Security.

More airport police are on duty at Los Angeles International Airport. However, Los Angeles World Airports, in a press release insisted that "there are no specific threats to LAX. We are constantly adjusting deployment strategies and as a precaution, increased the visibility of airport police."

Alert By TSA

TSA was the first to come out with a classified warning that ISIS might be planning an attack on the U.S. soil. Driven by its imminence, TSA deployed its Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams or VIPR, at various locations. The teams are keeping surveillance at airports, train stations and other transportation hubs.

The TSA warning, issued on Friday was followed up by the FBI investigation, which confirmed the threat, reports WND news. ISIS had warned of targeting the U.S. But this is the first time that the U.S. intelligence community has acted on a viable domestic threat. So far, ISIS has only attacked U.S. targets abroad.

Meanwhile, security expert Miachel T Flynn, in an article for CNN, asked the world to be vigilant against ISIS threats and lambasted the policy makers for its growth. He said it is a tragic irony that the Arab Spring-era policies of a Nobel Peace Prize recipient allowed the transition of Syria into world's newest jihad epicentre and made Libya a failed state and Yemen a failing state.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)