US law enforcement increases July 4th security due to increasing IS threats

This 4th of July, America's Independence Day, US Law enforcement agencies are taking extra precaution and increasing security nationwide, due to ongoing threats from terror groups like Islamic State.

Prominent locations like Washington DC, historic landmarks, theatres and holy places have been provided with additional security. According to Newsweek, radiation detection units, bomb-sniffing dogs and surveillance aircrafts will also be on hand.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI and the National Counter Terrorism Centre recently issued a joint intelligence bulletin to alert law enforcement across the US.

On Friday, DHS Secretary Jeh C Johnson issued a statement regarding security for the weekends events. 

"Particularly with the upcoming July 4th holiday, here in the United States the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI continue to communicate with state and local law enforcement about what we know and see," said Johnson in the statement.

"We are encouraging all law enforcement to be vigilant and prepared. We will also adjust security measures, seen and unseen, as necessary to protect the American people," he added.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s counter-terrorism chief,  Michael Downing, told CNN that law enforcement's main priority is about the extremely dangerous lone wolves, who are hard to detect, as they do not work in a group.