u.s. authorities said friday there is no known threat to the american homeland in the wake of the deadly terror attacks in paris, but cities across the country were taking precautions while intelligence officials expressed alarm over the methodology and planning that was evident behind the terrorist acts.









more than 120 people were killed when a series of apparently coordinated shootings and explosions rocked paris, which officials said evoked memories of the deadly 2008 terror attacks in mumbai, india.









"the department of homeland security and the federal bureau of investigation are closely monitoring events in paris and we are in contact with our counterparts in the region," homeland security secretary jeh johnson said in a statement. "at this time, we know of no specific or credible threats of an attack on the u.s. homeland of the type that occurred in paris tonight."









it is still unclear who was behind the attacks. one u.s. counterterrorism official told cnn that the attacks resemble tactics that have been used by a number of terror groups -- including al qaeda's focus on mass casualty and visibility, and the small, tactical nature of attacks that are more the hallmark of isis and its acolytes.









the official noted that algerian terrorist groups have attacked in paris in the past, though they don't have much capability to do what unfolded in paris. meanwhile, u.s. officials are still trying to determine if there are any u.s. connections with the terrorists or the victims and are working with their french counterparts to ensure there are no immediate threats to the u.s. two additional u.s. counterterrorism officials told cnn that authorities across the u.s. have convened secure conference calls to try and gather information. and a federal law enforcement official said federal authorities are working with local police agencies around the country to task sources domestically and internationally for information about any individuals possibly associated with the attacks. they're also going back to look at whether there was any intelligence missed indicating these attacks were going to happen, the law enforcement official said, adding that the fbi is also putting additional personnel on standby to be deployed to france to offer any support such as bomb technicians and computer analysts. president barack obama, french president francois hollande, second from right, and paris mayor anne hidalgo arrive at the bataclan, site of one of the paris terrorists attacks, to pay their respects to the victims after obama arrived in town for the cop21 climate change conference early on monday, november 30, in paris. the eiffel tower in paris is illuminated in the french national colors on monday, november 16. displays of support for the french people were evident at landmarks around the globe after the deadly terrorist attacks in paris on friday, november 13. people hold hands as they observe a minute of silence in lyon, france, on november 16, three days after the paris attacks. a minute of silence was observed throughout the country in memory of the victims of the country's deadliest violence since world war ii. french president francois hollande, center, flanked by french prime minister manuel valls, right, and french education minister najat vallaud-belkacem, center left, stands among students during a minute of silence in the courtyard of the sorbonne university in paris on november 16. a large crowd gathers to lay flowers and candles in front of the carillon restaurant in paris on sunday, november 15. a man sits next to candles lit as homage to the victims of the deadly attacks in paris at a square in rio de janeiro on november 15. people light candles in tribute to the paris victims on november 15 in budapest, hungary. people gather outside notre dame cathedral in paris on november 15 for a national service for the victims of the city's terror attacks. people write messages on the ground at place de la republique in paris on november 15. people pray during a candlelight vigil for victims of the paris attacks at a church in islamabad, pakistan, on november 15. french golfer gregory bourdy passes a peace symbol for the paris victims during the bmw shanghai masters tournament november 15 in shanghai, china. a man offers a prayer in memory of victims of the paris attacks at the french embassy in tokyo on november 15. a woman holds a candle atop a miniature replica of the eiffel tower during a candlelight vigil saturday, november 14, in vancouver, british columbia. front pages of japanese newspapers in tokyo show coverage and photos of the paris attacks on november 14. an electronic billboard on a canal in milan, italy reads, in french, "i'm paris," on november 14. the eiffel tower stands dark as a mourning gesture on november 14, in paris. more than 125 people were killed in a series of coordinated attacks in paris on friday. people around the world reacted in horror to the deadly terrorist assaults. lithuanians hold a candlelight vigil in front of the french embassy in vilnius, lithuania, on november 14. thousands gather in london's trafalgar square for a candlelit vigil on november 14 to honor the victims of the paris attacks. a woman lights candles at a memorial near the bataclan theater in paris on november 14. a man places a candle in front of le carillon cafe in paris on november 14. a woman holds a french flag during a gathering in stockholm, sweden, on november 14. nancy acevedo prays for france during the opening prayer for the sunshine summit being held at rosen shingle creek in orlando, florida on november 14. french soldiers of the united nations' interim forces in lebanon observe the national flag at half-staff at the contingent headquarters in the village of deir kifa on november 14. a couple surveys the signature sails of the sydney opera house lit in the colors of the french flag in sydney on november 14. a woman places flowers in front of the french consulate in st. petersburg, russia, on november 14. candles are lit in hong kong on november 14 to remember the scores who died in france. a woman lights a candle outside the french consulate in barcelona, spain, on november 14. britain's prince charles expresses solidarity with france at a birthday barbecue in his honor near perth, australia, on november 14. the french national flag flutters at half-staff on november 14 at its embassy in beijing. dutch prime minister mark rutte after a speech on november 14 in the hague following the attacks. japanese prime minister shinzo abe becomes emotional after his speech on the french attacks during the opening ceremony of a japanese garden in istanbul, turkey, on november 14. a woman mourns outside le carillon bar in the 10th district of paris on november 14. the attackers ruthlessly sought out soft targets where people were getting their weekends underway. people lay flowers outside the french embassy in moscow on november 14. mourners gather outside le carillon bar in the 10th district of paris on november 14. "we were listening to music when we heard what we thought were the sounds of firecrackers," a doctor from a nearby hospital who was drinking in the bar with colleagues told le monde. "a few moments later, it was a scene straight out of a war. blood everywhere." people attend a vigil outside the french consulate in montreal. prime minister justin trudeau offered "all of canada's support" to france on friday, november 13, in the wake of the attacks. police show a heightened presence in times square in new york on november 13, following the terrorist attacks in paris. people light candles at a vigil outside the french consulate in montreal on november 13. university of nevada, las vegas, fans observe a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks in paris before a basketball game november 13. the house lights are shut off and scoreboard dark as boston celtics players pause for a moment of silence for the paris victims before an nba basketball game against the atlanta hawks in boston on november 13. people light candles at a vigil outside the french consulate in montreal on november 13. one of the primary reasons for alarm among u.s. counterterrorism officials is the lack of relevant intelligence before the attacks began. intelligence agencies are looking at communications intercepts for clues as to any advanced planning or coordination, a u.s. intelligence official said. the u.s. collects overseas communications in europe and elsewhere, and in the past, such reviews have uncovered emails and other communications that show planning, the intelligence official added. local police departments moved quickly to place units on extra alert. in los angeles, extra police were deployed at critical sites like airports. in washington, enhanced patrols were sent near the capitol. in new york city, the new york police department was giving special attention and increasing its presence at soft targets such as nightclubs, theaters and museums, along with locations tied to france, another federal law enforcement official said. authorities are also scrutinizing known terror suspects in the u.s. and boosting surveillance of them, the law enforcement officials said. "we will not hesitate to adjust our security posture, as appropriate, to protect the american people," an fbi spokesperson said in a statement. "dhs and the fbi routinely share information with our state, local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security partners, and continually evaluate the level of protection we provide at federal facilities." sign up for cnn politics' nightcap newsletter, serving up today's best and tomorrow's essentials in politics.
u.s. officials: no known threat in wake of paris attack
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