Leaders in major cities across the country boosted security at houses of worship and cultural sites as a precaution following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The mayors of New York City, Los Angeles and the District of Columbia said no credible threats have been detected by their respective police departments’ intelligence arms, but the officials urged residents to be alert as the Iranian regime is notorious for sponsoring terror cells around the world.
“Following the strikes in Iran, I have been briefed on our coordination with federal partners regarding efforts to assess threats and protect Washington, DC,” Mayor Muriel Bowser posted late Saturday on X. “Together, we are monitoring intelligence and, as always, ask everyone to stay vigilant. If you see something, say something.”
The Metropolitan Police Department said more officers are being stationed near religious institutions in the District following the military strikes.
Local authorities said they are also coordinating with state partners to help safeguard citizens, businesses and visitors to the nation’s capital.
New York City leaders said they spoke with NYPD police brass throughout the world after the U.S. military’s Sunday attack that targeted three different sites in Iran.
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“This morning, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch and I convened our international liaisons for a briefing to discuss the situation in the Middle East and how it affects us here at home,” Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have increased police presence at religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the five boroughs.”
Ms. Tisch said NYPD has more than a dozen detectives embedded within international law enforcement agencies who keep tabs on rising tensions globally and how that may affect the Big Apple.
The discussion Sunday involved detectives stationed in Israel, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“Over the past week, they have also gone above and beyond, using their contacts to help New Yorkers seeking to evacuate and get home,” Ms Tisch posted on X.
NYPD officials, in coordination with federal law enforcement, said they have stopped more than 50 terror plots since Sept. 11, 2001.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass said police are increasing patrols near religious institutions, community gathering spaces and other locations in light of the U.S. offensive in the Middle East.
Ms. Bass said the move is being done out of an abundance of caution and that the city “is closely monitoring for any threats to public safety.”
President Trump announced late Saturday that B-2 stealth bombers carried out airstrikes targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Those American attacks came after a week of intense Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear and military targets across the country.
Mr. Trump claimed that “Operation Midnight Hammer” had “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, which include constructing an atomic weapon. The extent of the damage is still uncertain as Iran’s laboratories reside hundreds of feet below the surface.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not publicly commented following the attack Sunday. The 86-year-old ayatollah, who is reportedly in hiding, threatened “irreparable damage” last week if the U.S. were to get involved in the Israel-Iran war.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.