The FBI in New York City is awaiting an examination of hard drives and other belongings seized in the raid at Osama bin Laden's compound when he was killed to try and glean new intelligence information, the director of the FBI in New York told NBC New York.
Janice K. Fedarcyk said in an interview Tuesday that the FBI was "ready and prepared to receive that information."
"We have investigators standing by once that information does start to make its way out to the field offices that are being prepared to receive it," Fedarcyk said.
The White House has said hard drives, DVDs and other documents were seized in the raid by U.S. forces.
Some first responders, officials and families of 9/11 victims say they are anxious that bin Laden's death could endanger New York and America by re-energizing terrorists.
"I understand that people are feeling joyful," said Carl Asaro Jr., who lost his father, "but at the same time I don't want it to incite any further violence."
Images of Americans in New York and other cities were broadcast around the world after the death of the terror mastermind.
Mayor Bloomberg, while citing the significance of the moment, warned that New York City remains a top target and "the killing of bin Laden will not change that."
The NYPD has said there are no specific threats against the city, but has tightened security citywide as officials operate under the assumption that "bin Laden's disciples would like nothing better than to avenge his death with an attack in New York."
Margaret Mauro, whose sister was killed, said bin Laden's death "doesn't mean that the war on terror is over."
"We need to keep our guard up," she said. "We don't know how many terrorist sleeper cells are out there. That's what scares the living daylights out of me."
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said in an interview that for the short term, "this could be very dangerous for us."
"In the long run, this is a very very good development in the war against Islamic extremist terrorism," Giuliani added. "He was a major symbol and you cannot underestimate the value of taking out a major symbol like that, but in the short run, this could create problems for us that we have to be very alert to.”
Paramedic Marvin Bethea said he's glad that bin Laden is "no longer here to conduct his evil."
"Unfortunately we have to worry about someone else trying to take his place," he said.
Geoffrey Kohart, father of Cantor Fitzgerald worker Ryan Kohart, said he believes more attacks are possible but hopes the never-ending search for bin Laden sent a message.
"I think it says to the people who want to do these horrible things to the U.S. that it's serious business," he said. "I think they will take more shots at us, but the American people are strong and our resolve is strong."
