Governor: No Credible Information of a Specific Threat to New Jersey

Gov. Chris Christie and his Homeland Security Advisor, Charles McKenna, released a statement late Monday to assure New Jersey residents that there is no specific threat of any retaliatory act planned by terrorist groups in response to the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

The statement said that McKenna and the Governor had been "in close contact" since the announcement last night that Bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. 

"Governor Christie and Director McKenna want to assure the citizens of New Jersey that, while the nation must be cognizant of the potential for retaliatory acts by Al Qaeda sympathizers, there is no credible information of a specific threat to New Jersey or the nation," the statement said.

According to the statement, the state has been in close contact with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security in addition to "state, county and local law enforcement partners."

"In addition, there have been outreach efforts to the private sector and various religious groups in the State, including the Muslim community, to ensure that there are no bias related crimes targeted at any citizens," the release said.

There is "no particular act on the horizon" in regards to retaliation for the death of the leader of Al Qaeda. 

"If a citizen sees something that is suspicious, he or she should report it immediately," the release said. "It can be reported to a 24 hour suspicious activity reporting line maintained by OHSP which is 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365)."

Officials said people "may notice a heightened police presence in areas of public assembly" which is related to a "heightened sense of preparedness" not to "a specific threat."

“New Jersey and the country will not be deterred by the acts of terrorism and we will continue to fight against it, wherever it manifests itself," said McKenna.