Officials Name ‘Most Dangerous Two Miles in America’

Officials Name ‘Most Dangerous Two Miles in America’
US Department of Homeland Security police.(Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
3/21/2016
Updated:
3/21/2016

Homeland Security officials called an area in New Jersey “the most dangerous two miles in America.”

The remarks were made during the 10th annual conference of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness on March 18. Local, state, and federal officials discussed potential threats varying from radical terrorists to hackers.

Officials said critical infrastructure, sensitive chemical processing facilities and major highways make New Jersey especially vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

The two-mile area that is referred to as the most dangerous in the country stretches from Exit 13A on the New Jersey Turnpike going towards Newark Airport up to Elizabeth.

Exit 13A on the New Jersey Turnpike. (Google Maps)
Exit 13A on the New Jersey Turnpike. (Google Maps)

The report also said five homegrown violent extremists that were inspired by ISIS were arrested in 2015. New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania accounted for 27 percent of all arrests of homegrown extremist across the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.