U.S. cities step up security after Brussels attacks

Officials in New York City and Washington, D.C., bolstered security measures on Tuesday after explosions in the Brussels airport and subway killed dozens.

The New York Police Department has sent additional security to transit hubs and crowded areas around the city, according to a statement from NYPD deputy commissioner for public information Stephen P. Davis. But there is “no known indication that the attack has any nexus to New York City,” Davis said.

Davis added that these attacks come as the federal government is considering cutting anti-terrorism funding to the city. “Any cut in terrorism funding to New York — to what is widely recognized as the nation’s top terror target — would be irresponsible,” he said.

The New York Police Department also released a statement on Twitter:

NYPD is monitoring attacks in Belgium. Additional resources have been deployed across NYC. https://t.co/MOjKCmYVHs pic.twitter.com/pGshXGaAsP

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 22, 2016

In Washington, police said that there were no credible threats to the metro, but they sent additional patrols as well as sweeps by K-9 teams, which work to detect explosives, as precautionary measures.

No known, specific or credible threat to Metro at this time. Additional K9 sweeps + patrols starting this AM as precaution. #wmata

— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) March 22, 2016

President Barack Obama has been briefed on the Brussels attacks in Cuba, where he arrived Sunday. The FBI and Justice Department are also coordinating with their counterparts in Belgium.