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Security tightened in Houston after terror attacks in Belgium

Xinhua, March 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Security at airports here has been heightened after terror attacks in Brussels killed at least 34 people and injured many others.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that his city, the fourth largest in the United States, faces no specific threats, but police have stepped up patrol in ticket lobbies and parking garages of the airports, and drivers are not allowed to linger in passenger pick-up and drop-off lanes, local TV station KHOU 11 reported.

The mayor said these precautions are expected to continue through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four events -- Men's Basketball Championship scheduled for April 2-4.

"We always assume for the worst case scenario with respect to any of the events, especially the NCAA...So we were already ramped up to make sure that we keep people safe," Turner said.

The biggest risk in the United States is "homegrown radicalized and violent extremists as opposed to actual ISIS members coming over," said Dennis Storemski, Houston's director of public safety and homeland security. "The main thing is to try to prevent it."

At least 34 people were killed and 180 others injured on Tuesday morning in a series of explosions at Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek metro station close to the European Union institutions in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

The Islamic State extremist group has claimed the terror attacks, which put Belgium and other European countries on high alert. Endi