Gov. Greg Abbott has called on the Texas Department of Public Safety to ramp up resources for the state’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force.
The announcement from Abbott’s office comes after the tragic attack in New Orleans, where 14 people were killed in the French Quarter, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was a Houston man who authorities say was inspired by ISIS.
“Terrorism has no place in Texas,” Abbott said in a press release published Tuesday.”Law enforcement at all levels must aggressively collaborate to eliminate radicalization that can lead to terrorist attacks.”
Under the governor’s new initiative, DPS will collaborate with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to help prevent, protect, and mitigate any growing potential terrorist threats across the state.
DPS will join with FBI field offices to expand the Joint Terrorism Task Force operations.
According to the press release, more analysts will also be assigned to investigate potential terrorist threats linked specifically to radical “jihadist” ideologies. This also includes a focused effort on identifying people on terrorist watch lists or those who have entered the U.S. through irregular immigration routes or channels deemed suspicious.
Abbott has further directed DPS to expand the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP), which is designed to boost resource and information sharing between law enforcement and the private sector to identify suspicious purchases of materials that could be used to make bombs.
DPS will also work with local law enforcement agencies to strengthen security for high-profile or large upcoming public events.
Additionally, Abbott announced that the Capitol complex in Austin will undergo a thorough security re-assessment, with DPS providing recommendations to enhance defenses against potential terrorist attacks.