President Obama said Wednesday that officials do not know of any “specific and credible intelligence” pointing to a plot against the U.S., as he sought to assure the American public ahead of the holiday season.
The president delivered an update to the public after meeting with his national security team to discuss possible threats in the wake of the Paris attacks, and what is being done to combat them.
“We are taking every possible step to keep our homeland safe,” Obama said Wednesday.
The president gave the update after the State Department this week issued a rare worldwide travel alert. But Obama stressed, the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, that based on the briefing he had in the Situation Room, the government does not know of any specific threat on U.S. soil.
“Right now, we know of no specific and credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland,” he said.
The president indicated that in the weeks ahead, there may be more announcements on the military campaign against the Islamic State, the terror group behind the Paris strike.
“We will not let up, adjusting our tactics where necessary, until they are beaten,” Obama said.
And to Americans traveling for the holidays, Obama said he wants them to know his counterterrorism and intelligence and law enforcement teams at every level are “working overtime” and “on the case.”
Obama said if a “specific, credible threat” emerges, the public will be informed.