Obama On New York Bombing: Authorities Are Moving 'Smartly' To Find Attackers

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama on Monday praised law enforcement for moving “smartly” to root out the people behind the weekend’s bombing in New York City, and reaffirmed his commitment to destroying terrorist groups like the self-described Islamic State.

“I am extraordinarily happy with the cooperation that’s been taking place with the FBI and state and local law enforcement,” Obama said at a hastily called press event in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. “They are moving smartly on this investigation.”

The president’s remarks came just minutes after New Jersey police arrested 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami, a suspect in the Saturday night bombing in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood that left 29 injured. It’s unclear whether there are other suspects.

Authorities suspect Rahami is connected to two other attempted attacks in the area. Earlier Saturday, a garbage can exploded near the starting line of a Marine Corps charity race in Seaside Park, New Jersey. And on Sunday night, authorities found a backpack filled with bombs in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Intelligence officials have determined they are connected.

The president said law enforcement is still asking for the help of the community to report anything that seems fishy. “If you see something suspicious, then you need to say something,” he said.

Obama noted there was also a stabbing attack over the weekend in a Minnesota shopping mall, but he said there’s no connection between that and the attacks in the New York area. Nobody was killed in that incident, either.

The president said moments like these serve as important reminders that violent extremists are not only trying to hurt innocent people, but to disrupt American life.

“We all have a role to play as citizens to make sure we don’t succumb to fear. There’s no better example of that than the people of New York and New Jersey,” he said. “That kind of toughness and resoluteness and recognition that neither individuals nor organizations like ISIL can ultimately undermine our way of life.”

“That’s the kind of strength that makes me so proud to be an American,” Obama added. “That’s the kind of strength that is going to be absolutely critical … by showing those who want to do us harm that they will never beat us.”