Carper Statement on Recent Attacks and Attempted Attacks in New York and New Jersey

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to the planned attacks that took place in New York City and New Jersey over the weekend:

“Today and every day, we are indebted to the law enforcement professionals who have made it their life’s work to keep our communities safe. Over the last 48 hours, we have seen officials at the federal, state and local levels work together and respond swiftly in order to neutralize any immediate threats and prevent further injuries or the loss of life. We are keeping all those injured – law enforcement officers and civilians alike  – in our thoughts and prayers, and we are thankful that these attacks did not result in any fatalities.

“I will continue to monitor this situation closely as we learn more information. The investigation into these attacks and the perpetrators behind them is still ongoing, and we must let law enforcement professionals continue to do their job. But, as we have seen, the American people also have an important role to play. Over the weekend, ordinary citizens who saw suspicious packages alerted law enforcement quickly and, by doing so, prevented more damage from being done. Their example reminds us of the important motto – ‘if you see something, say something’ – and the resiliency of New Yorkers in the face of these attacks reminds us that we should remain alert, but not afraid.”