At St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, the Rev. Monsignor Robert Ritchie mourned the "apocalyptic" attacks. At area sports venues, fans saw a stepped up law enforcement presence. And in Nassau and Suffolk counties, police said they have received no threats but will monitor events closely.
In separate television interviews Sunday morning, Bratton and King each said the Friday night attacks are a reminder of the importance of monitoring potential terror suspects.
Bratton said the attacks also showed the rapid growth of the ability of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, to attack far beyond its base of operations, primarily in Syria.
"This is a game-changer," Bratton said in an interview during local morning news on WABC/7. "They have moved into competition with Al Qaida, and have surpassed Al Qaida. ISIS has turned a significant page."
The terror attacks Friday night killed 129 people in Paris and injured more than 300 others, French officials said.
French president Francois Hollande blamed ISIS for the coordinated attacks in the heart of the city. One American, Nohemi Gonzalez, 23, a student at California State University, Long Beach, died in the attacks, authorities said.
In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," King, a Republican, said the attacks were staged by terrorists from France as well as from ISIS headquarters in the Middle East. King, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and chairman of its subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence, said the attacks also underscored the danger posed by allowing refugees from Syria into the United States.
The attacks have led to an increased law enforcement presence outside Madison Square Garden where the Knicks game against the New Orleans Pelicans started at noon. Across the Hudson River, fans heading to the late afternoon game between the Giants and the New England Patriots will also see ramped up security measures before they enter the stadium, officials said.
Suffolk County police said they are continuing to monitor events but there is no credible information indicating that an attack will occur in Suffolk County."
Nassau County police are "intensifying patrols in all areas, and we'll increase patrols at significant public events," said a police spokeswoman.
More than 4 million Syrians have fled their homeland since 2011, after a popular uprising against president Bashar Assad that quickly turned into a devastating civil war.
Millions of refugees have made their way across Europe leading to reported suspicions that a Paris terrorist was among them. President Barack Obama has said the United States will take in up to 10,000 Syrian refugees.
King said Obama should suspend accepting any Syrian refugees immediately "unless they can show that a refugee is not part of ISIS. ... We have to realize we are the main target."
Bratton said the NYPD is prepared to protect the city against terrorists but ISIS's ability to take advantage of social media to inspire and recruit new members is an ongoing challenge. The extremist group has the ability to encrypt electronic messages making it more difficult to track their movements he said.
As important as defending the city, Bratton said, is the ability to aggressively target extremists.
"It's important to go on offense when we get the information," Bratton said. "to get them before they get us."
He said critics of the NYPD's surveillance efforts should understand that it has helped prevent attacks on the city. He cited the arrests last spring of two Queens women, Asia Siddiqui, 31, and Noelle Velentzas, 28, on charges of attempting to detonate a bomb, as proof of the need for surveillance.
The FBI's investigation into the women, both of whom are Muslim, was spearheaded by an undercover agent who heard Velentzas "praise" the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and state that "being a martyr through a suicide attack guarantees entrance to heaven," according to court papers.
Ritchie asked those inside St. Patrick's Cathedral to "have hearts that are like Jesus, that do not hate ... that work for the defense of human life." Ritchie added that Christians and others must "love your enemies" and "be good to those who hurt and persecute you. . . . Today we should say, God bless France or viva la France" and pray for "our brothers and sisters who are suffering in the city of lights."
With Scott Eidler and Lisa Irizarry and Emily Ngo
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