WASHINGTON – Senator Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said she and Committee Chairman Senator Joe Lieberman were briefed Monday morning by Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, about the attempted New York City bombing.
“The Secretary told us that federal, state, and local investigators are working around the clock but do not yet know if this was an attempted terrorist attack,” Senator Collins said. “We do know that improvised explosive devices – like the one found in the vehicle in Times Square – are a weapon of choice for terrorists and that this incident bears some similarities to the attempted nightclub attack in the United Kingdom in 2007.
“This incident also validates the critical role that alert citizens play in thwarting attempted attacks, regardless of their source. I also want to salute the alert street vendor who first reported the suspicious vehicle and the courageous work of the New York City police officers who responded rapidly at the scene. Senator Lieberman and I have been strong advocates of encouraging people to report suspicious activities. In this case, the ‘See Something, Say Something’ approach likely saved lives.”