There will be a strong security presence at big crowd events on the Fourth of July in New York and Washington.

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There will be plenty of security in Washington and New York

Al Qaeda is still considered a threat

Washington CNN  — 

There is no credible information that terrorists are plotting an attack to coincide with the Fourth of July holiday, federal law enforcement officials said.

Nevertheless, there will be a strong security presence at big crowd events, particularly in New York City and Washington, cities hit hard during the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

After al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals during a May 2011 raid, material found at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, indicated the terror group was interested in striking on significant dates such as Independence Day and Christmas.

Although there is no intelligence indicating an al Qaeda plot tied to July 4, law enforcement remains watchful. And officials never rule out the possibility that a single person, a so-called lone wolf, might choose to commit an act of violence at a holiday gathering.