USA TODAY International Edition
Obama to Americans: Do not to give in to fear
Says bombings in N. Y./ N. J. not related to Minn. stabbings
President Obama commended law enforcement and counter- terrorism officials for their handling of what appeared to be terrorist- inspired attacks over the weekend, asking Americans to not give in to fear.
He said the bombings in New York and New Jersey did not appear to be related to the stabbings at a Minnesota shopping mall.
Obama, in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly this week, spoke after a weekend that saw a bombing in New York injure at least 29 people and attempted bombings thwarted in New York and New Jersey. His statement came even as authorities apprehended a suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, in Linden, N. J.
The president said he was monitoring the situation closely, and had spoken to FBI Director James Comey and the governors of New York, New Jersey and Minnesota. “As is my practice, I’m going to leave it to law enforcement and the FBI to provide details,” he said.
“In the meantime, I would ask that the press to try to refrain fro getting our ahead of the investigation,” he said. Law enforcement officials are “moving smartly,” he said, and “actually know what they’re talking about.”
“It does not help if false reports or incomplete information is out there,” he said.
As he has following previous “lone wolf” terrorist attacks, Obama spoke of the importance of combating the ideology that inspires such attacks. “We’re going to continue to enlist tech companies, community and religious leaders to push back on extremist content online and all messages of hate,” he said. “We all have a role to play as citizens.”
He also asked Americans not to give in to fear — and held out the people of New York and New Jersey as an example.
“Folks around here, they don’t get scared, they’re tough, they’re resilient, they go about their business every single day,” he said. “We do not, and never will, give in to fear.”