HOUSTON — The governor of Texas called on law enforcement to step up anti-terrorism efforts. The focus comes after a Houston resident, inspired by the Islamic State, drove a truck through the French Quarter in New Orleans, killing 14 on New Year’s Day.
Governor Greg Abbott directed the Department of Public Safety to increase resources for a task force dedicated to mitigating threats of radicalization. The Anti-terrorism Joint Terrorism Task Force between DPS and the FBI will focus on prevention, protection and mitigation.
RELATED: FBI releases video of New Orleans streets recorded by Bourbon Street attacker
DPS is expected to increase the number of intelligence analysts, provide training and education across the state, protect large events and assess “special interest migrants.”
DPS will work with local law enforcement to expand a program to raise awareness of bomb-making materials. The program empowers the private sector to recognize and alert law enforcement to suspicious purchases.
Prevention will include local police and sheriff’s deputies, mental health professionals and other fields.
For protection and mitigation, DPS will work with local agencies for security at special events. Tactics include the use of technology, analytics, personnel and more.
DPS will also support local agencies with mass casualty attack planning, threat detection, training, certification, intelligence sharing, reporting and more.
The FBI continues to investigate the Jan. 1 attack in New Orleans and learn how the suspect came to be influenced by ISIS.
Shamsud-Din Jabbar apparently planned the attack on Bourbon Street for weeks. The FBI said he had bomb-making materials in his Houston home and a rented home in New Orleans. Tuesday, the FBI searched a storage unit in Harris County for evidence in the case.
RELATED: New Orleans attack came at a time of political heat, and transition, for the FBI