State: No credible New Year’s threats to homeland

by Jesse Byrnes - 12/30/15 5:36 PM ET

New Year's Eve, Terror Threat, NYPD, Times Square — Getty Images

While law enforcement remains on high alert surrounding the holidays in the wake of recent terror attacks, there are no known credible threats to the U.S., a top Obama administration official said Wednesday.

“I think we’re always very concerned about the safety and security of the American people particularly around the holidays,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.”

“We’re not aware of any specific, credible threats here in the homeland,” Kirby added.

{mosads}Officials in Brussels have canceled New Year’s Eve festivities in the Belgian capital amid fears of a terrorist plot there. The cancellation follows the arrest of two men Tuesday suspected of planning an attack.

Similar arrests were also carried out in Turkey where officials said they believe suspects planned to carry out an attack while people rang in the New Year.

President Obama sought to reassure the American public in remarks before leaving on his holiday vacation to Hawaii earlier this month that U.S. officials remain vigilant on stopping any potential plots.

Fears of terrorism spiked in the weeks following the deadly shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., linked to terrorism, forcing law enforcement officials across the country to step up their efforts around the holiday season.

Tags Anti-terrorism John Kirby New Years Eve Terrorism