Christie: ‘No intelligence to suggest any threats’ to NJ after Brussels attack

Gov. Chris Christie said that while there is no intelligence to suggest that there is any threat to New Jersey in the wake of the deadly explosions in Brussels, security throughout the Garden State and on mass transit has been increased.

"First off, I want to advise the people of the state that we have no intelligence to suggest a threat to New Jersey or any place in our region at the current time," Christie said in a press conference Tuesday. "New information continues to come in and our understanding of the attacks and their methods and motivations could change over the next several hours or days but as we sit here today we have no intelligence to suggest there are any threats to our region."

Explosions rocked the Brussels airport and subway system Tuesday, prompting a lockdown of the Belgian capital and resulting in heightened security across Europe. At least 30 people were killed and dozens were wounded. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Christie said he has has two briefings with Dr. Chris Rodriguez, the NJ Director of Homeland Security, and state officials are also in contact with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The governor said New Jerseyans and commuters traveling through the Garden State should expect to see additional security personal in the coming days.

"The public in New Jersey should be ready though to see over the next number of days larger numbers of security personnel patrolling our transportation hubs. We think that's a prudent and important step to take," Christie told reporters. "The Port Authority and NJ Transit have increased security at the major train stations at Newark airport - all the heavy and light rail stations across the state."

The additional security will be especially evident at Newark airport, where additional border patrol agents will be stationed. The governor said once state officials learned about the attacks in the early morning hours Tuesday, bomb detection units were immediately deployed at airports. The state's military bases are also on heightened alert.

On the rails, Christie said Amtrak has increased K-9 units on all Northeast Corridor trains.

Christie also said the state will continue to coordinate security efforts with New York as well as federal Homeland Security teams.

"Unfortunately, these are the kind of attacks we're going to continue to see. ISIS has taken responsibility for this attack this morning and we have to be expecting that these types of attacks will happen against free countries around the world," Christie said. "And so as I've said many times before for those who want to deny that we're in a war, I want them to look at the video they see from Brussels this morning. It is a different war, it is an unconventional war, but it is a war and any of us who think differently I think are sadly mistaken."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.