In light of apparent coordinated terrorist attacks that left at least 140 people dead in Paris, Los Angeles police have added extra patrols at “critical infrastructure” sites and will have extra officers on hand at large public gatherings today, a department spokesman said.
“We are aware of the attacks in Paris and the command staff has been alerted,” Officer Aareon Jefferson of the LAPD’s Media Relations section said.
Jefferson said there was no known threat to Los Angeles, and the department was not on tactical alert. However, department commanders were contacted and officers planned to step up their presence at critical sites and places where large crowds are gathered — such as a Justin Bieber concert tonight at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that it was not taking extraordinary measures in response to the attacks.
“While there is no specific credible threat to Los Angeles County, sheriff’s personnel will be reminded to remain vigilant and maintain situational awareness. We urge the public to report any suspicious activity to a local law enforcement agency and if they see something, say something,” according to the department.
Police in Pasadena, where UCLA will be playing Washington State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night, echoed that advice while explaining that although no threats against the city have been identified, the department “is in ongoing communication with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and local law enforcement agencies … .”
At LAX, spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado said there have been no changes or delays for flights into France. French officials announced late Friday night that flights in and out of the country will continue with heightened security.
The FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security were closely monitoring the situation and won’t hesitate to adjust their security posture if deemed appropriate, according to officials at the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
Both the FBI and DHS share information with local and state authorities and evaluate on an ongoing basis the level of protection at federal facilities, according to the FBI.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said via Twitter there are “no confirmed credible threats here in Los Angeles” in response to the terror attacks in Paris, but he said the city is “taking all necessary precautions for heightened attention for our city.”
“Los Angeles stands with Paris against the horror of these attacks,” Garcetti said. “Our love and prayers are with you.”
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck also expressed solidarity with Paris on Twitter.
“No city should have to undergo the sheer terror which took place in Paris,” he said. “LAPD stands with Paris against this unthinkable violence.”
Philippe Ouzeau, a Paris-born waiter at the famed Echo Park French restaurant Taix, said he was “sad we let France get to the point where the president (Francois Hollande) declares a state of emergency, a state before a state of war.”
“Like 9/11 changed this county, this is going to change France,” Ouzeau said.
“The only positive aspect I believe is this is going to give more power to the police to do more investigations and try to prevent these things from happening again.”
A media representative at the French Consulate in Los Angeles referred questions about the attacks to the French embassy in Washington.
At the French-language school Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles in West Los Angeles, a person who answered the phone said school administrators did not want to comment, saying they were mourning “a great tragedy.”
