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WASHINGTON - U.S. officials said they did not believe the United States was in imminent danger of an attack similar to Thursday's second wave of bombings on London's transport system but were closely monitoring events.
Just hours after four small explosions hit London's bus and underground train network, injuring one person, President Bush said the United States would not be frightened by acts of terrorism.
"They have the desire to use their terrorist techniques to frighten us," Bush said in a speech on trade in which he did not directly mention the bombings. "They understand when they kill in cold blood it ends up on our TV screens. And they're trying to shake our will."
"They don't understand our country though. They don't understand that when it comes to the defense of universal freedoms, this country won't be frightened," he added.
Homeland Security officials said the department was closely monitoring the events in London and noted the U.S. mass transit system was already at a heightened state of alert -- a move taken two weeks ago after the first wave of bombings in central London. Britain and the United States are close allies in the war on terrorism.
"We have no specific information indicating this type of attack is imminent in the United States," said spokeswoman Katy Montgomery.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said there was no plan to change the alert level for the mass transit systems.
Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said security had been increased at the Pentagon in a precautionary response to the situation in London, but that there was no evidence of a direct threat to U.S. defense headquarters. The Pentagon was struck during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"We have a major metro facility that runs through the Pentagon," Whitman said referring to a busy underground subway stop beneath the sprawling military headquarters in Virginia near Washington.
The increased state of alert on buses, subways and trains meant more police were on watch and patrolling stations and platforms. There were also bomb-sniffing dogs on patrol, increased video surveillance of stations and more frequent inspection of trash receptacles, Montgomery said.
On July 7, after the first wave of bombings in central London that killed more than 50 people, the Department of Homeland Security increased the security level for mass transit.
At the time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the department was concerned about the possibility of a copycat attack.
Department officials said on Thursday that Homeland Security officials across the country were constantly reassessing the terror threat.
Bush was briefed throughout the day about the situation in London, his spokesman said.
McClellan said U.S. officials had been in Britain since the bombings two weeks ago to work with British authorities.
"We will continue to assist in any way we can," he said.
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