Homeland Security increases U.S. airport searches

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Homeland Security officials boosted security screenings at federal buildings and airports in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris last week.

Measures include adding security at several government buildings nationwide, increased airport security and more passenger and carry-on baggage checks at airports across the country, the Department of Homeland Security said.

"The measures described above are precautionary. We have no specific, credible intelligence of an attack of the kind in Paris last week being planned by terrorist organizations in this country," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson said the reasons for the ramped-up measures "should be self-evident to the public," citing attacks in Paris, Canada and Australia as examples.

CNN reported the enhanced measures are a response to an article in an al-Qaida publication detailing how to make bombs using household products and concerns regarding threats from weaponry that is not detectable by body scanners.