Mayor Urges Vigilance After Obama's Osama Bombshell

Southland authorities were mum Monday morning about plans to protect potential terror targets after the news broke that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan.

But several leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and , who announced in Washington on Sunday night that bin Laden had been killed, urged vigilance.

"This announcement tonight by President Obama that Osama bin Laden has been killed is indeed historic, but we must continue to be vigilant and remain on guard against those that still seek to harm us," Villaraigosa said in a statement.

"We have no operations set up at this time," Deputy Jeff Gordon of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said after the president's speech.

"We will deploy all resources and tactical responses necessary if warranted."

The Los Angeles Police Department had no immediate comment on possible security measures stemming from the death of the man behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The LAPD's West Valley Division issued a false alarm about terrorists  after discovering it was redistributing an urban legend.

Villaraigosa said American Muslims have supported anti-terror efforts. "We must also recognize that members of the Muslim community are and have been our partners against terrorism," he said. "They have worked side by side with us for years, and we have stood together against hatred and united as one nation against terrorism."

In Anaheim, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization, welcomed news of bin Laden's death.

"We join our fellow citizens in welcoming the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been eliminated as a threat to our nation and the world through the actions of American military personnel," it said in a statement.

"As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam. In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and al-Qaida caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, speaking at a small open-air Santa Monica memorial for California political consultant Kam Kuwata, said at the end of her remarks Sunday that bin Laden was dead, the Los Angeles Times reported on its website.

Bin Laden's death was announced to the nation in Washington by Obama, who said U.S. authorities have the body in custody.

The president called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaida" but warned that "there's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant."

News reports from Washington quoted American officials as saying after the speech that the operation against the al-Qaida leader could lead to more terror threats against the United States.

The State Department, meanwhile, warned Americans abroad in sensitive areas to limit their travels outside their homes and hotels.

After the president's speech, fireworks were heard in several Southland communities, including Long Beach, Lakewood and Pacoima, the Times reported.

About 25 Jewish students at USC were just finishing a ceremonial dinner at the campus Chabad House when whispers began making their way around the table and diners became focused on their smartphones.

"Osama bin Laden is dead! It's on Twitter," one student finally said, according to the Times. The room erupted in cheers and high-fives.

City News Service contributed to this report.