Iran Conflict Pushes ‘Heightened Vigilance’ Call For Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — County officials and law enforcement are asking residents to “exercise heightened vigilance” following this weekend’s Iran bombing and Iran’s threat of retaliation.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. military had dropped bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it “a spectacular military success.”

With Iran threatening retaliation, officials across the country are increasing security and taking preemptive measures against a potential terror attack.

Retaliation has already taken place overseas, with Iranian forces firing missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. According to a statement from the Supreme National Security of Iran, "the number of missiles used in this successful operation equals the number of bombs used by the United States in its attack on Iranian nuclear facilities."

The Qatar Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the missiles were successfully intercepted, and there were no casualties from the attack.

See Related Story: Iran Strikes Prompt Heightened Security In ‘Sensitive’ NJ Locations

Morris County officials are asking for “your heightened vigilance during this period of escalated risk,” particularly regarding anti-Semitic hate crimes and cyber attacks that are “motivated by retaliation.”

“Today, we reiterate that members of Morris County law enforcement are absolutely committed to combatting antisemitism and any other forms of religious discrimination that violates our criminal laws,” Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said in a statement. “We want to reassure this community that we are proactively working with local religious leaders to provide individual facility security hardening and confirming the necessary lines of communication to assure quick response to any situation potentially involving criminal misconduct. Working with our neighboring counties, we will continue our efforts to assure the safety of all persons wishing to live in peace to practice their religion in Morris County.”

Morris County law enforcement officials are also urging residents to report any “suspicious activity” in the area.

“Law enforcement is our first line of defense in preventing an attack or violent incident, and vigilance by members of the public is critical at this time,” Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said.

Religious leaders have also spoken out, praising local law enforcement for their efforts during this “tenuous time.”

“The safety of our community remains our highest priority, which is greatly strengthened through the support and collaboration of law enforcement agencies and government officials,” said Thomas Michaels, Chief Security Officer of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

Officials reiterated that there is no specific threat to the Morris County area at this time.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office can be reached at 973-285-6200, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 973-285-6610.