Southern Californians Urged To Be Vigilant Against Terrorism

Southland law enforcement and security experts today were assessing what measures to take in the wake of the announcement that U.S. forces had killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

A joint news conference was scheduled for 11 a.m. by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck to address the topic publicly.

Security efforts reportedly were being beefed up at various public venues, including at Staples Center, where the second round of the NBA playoffs were scheduled to begin with a game tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.

Several political leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and President Barack Obama, who announced in Washington Sunday night that bin Laden had been killed, urged vigilance.

“We have no operations set up at this time,” Deputy Jeff Gordon of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau said shortly after the president’s speech. “We will deploy all resources and tactical responses necessary if warranted.”

The Los Angeles Police Department had no immediate comment on possible security measures stemming from the death of the man behind the 9/11 terror attacks.

“This announcement tonight by President Obama that Osama bin Laden has been killed is indeed historic, but we must continue to be vigilant and remain on guard against those that still seek to harm us,” Villaraigosa said in a statement.

Also cautioning prudence was Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte.

“…I urge Americans both here and abroad to remain vigilant,” she said in a statement.

“The killing of Osama bin Laden is indeed the most severe blow that has been dealt to al-Qaida, but we must never forget that there are still adherents of bin Laden that will continue his efforts to wage violent jihad against America and her allies.

“We must be prepared to repel and disrupt any retaliatory attacks that may result from this historic event.’

Chu said that while she doesn’t agree with Obama’s ongoing prosecution of the war in Afghanistan, “I commend him, his national security team and the brave men and women of our intelligence and armed services who collaborated to finally bring justice to America’s greatest enemy.”

Another local Congress member, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, praised U.S. Special forces and the intelligence community but warned, “This doesn’t mean the War on Terror is over. What it does mean is that no one can kill scores of Americans and think they can get away with it.

“Tonight, America is celebrating while Obama bin Laden burns in hell,” he said in a statement for Washington, D.C.

Villaraigosa said American Muslims have supported antiterror efforts.

“We must also recognize that members of the Muslim community are and have been our partners against terrorism,” he said. “They have worked side by side with us for years, and we have stood together against hatred and united as one nation against terrorism.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown said the successful strike against bin Laden showed that the U.S. is serious about avenging terrorism.

“Our friends as well as our adversaries throughout the world can be assured of America’s resolve in combating terrorism and protecting the values of democracy and freedom,” Brown said.

In Anaheim, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization, welcomed news of bin Laden’s death.

“We join our fellow citizens in welcoming the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been eliminated as a threat to our nation and the world through the actions of American military personnel,” it said in a statement.

“As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam. In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and al-Qaida caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide.”

The council’s sentiments were echoed by the Los Angeles chapter of the civil rights group Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

“Muslim leaders and organizations celebrate with our fellow Americans the fact that bin Laden brought to justice,” said Najee Ali, the association’s founder and director.

State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, called bin Laden’s killing “an extraordinarily significant event and milestone in out war on terror.

“I was acting mayor of Los Angeles that day and I recall activating the city’s emergency operation center as we heard conflicting news reports of hijacked planes headed to Los Angeles,” Padilla said. “We later learned that those planes had been tragically used to kill thousands of our fellow Americans in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, speaking at a small open-air Santa Monica memorial for California political consultant Kam Kuwata, said at the end of her remarks today that bin Laden was dead, the Los Angeles Times reported on its website.

Bin Laden’s death was announced to the nation in Washington by Obama, who at that point said U.S. authorities had the body in custody.

Later reports said that bin Laden was buried at sea early today, after Saudi Arabian officials turned down an American offer to have him buried in that country.

The president called bin Laden’s death “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al-Qaida” but warned that “there’s no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant.’

News reports from Washington quoted American officials as saying following the speech that the operation against the al-Qaida leader could lead to more terror threats against the U.S.

The State Department, meanwhile, warned Americans abroad in sensitive areas to limit their travels outside their homes and hotels.

After the president’s speech, fireworks were heard in several Southland communities, including Long Beach, Lakewood and Pacoima, the Times reported.

About 25 Jewish students at USC were just finishing a ceremonial dinner at the campus Chabad House when whispers began making their way around the table and diners became focused on their smart phones.

“Osama bin Laden is dead! It’s on Twitter,” one student finally said, according to The Times. The room erupted in cheers and high fives.