Police Beef Up Security At Religious Congregations After Fallout From 'Innocence Of Muslims'

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The LAPD says there is no reason to believe the Southland is a terror target despite fallout from a low-budget movie that depicts Islamic prophet Muhammad in a negative light.

The "Innocence of Muslims" was initially blamed for the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans Tuesday at the American embassy in Benghazi.

The LAPD said the moment the film went viral on YouTube, the FBI and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center in Los Angeles went on heightened alert.

"We look for things that could be precursors to things happening in Southern California," Commander Blake Chow said. "Everything that happens, whether that be overseas or in New York, it has the potential to impact Southern California."

He said, so far, there has been no evidence to suggest Los Angeles or Hollywood are targets.

However, the commander said officers beefed up patrols at mosques, temples and Coptic churches in the area as a precaution.

Bellflower deputies are stationed out in front of a Coptic church where parishioner's said the film's director, Nakoula Nakoula, attended church at one time.

Father Joseph Boules from the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles said he has no idea who the director is, but he condemns the film.

"We would never teach anything as this gentleman is putting out. We are against extremism in all forms and violence in all forms," he said.

Boules also said he got a phone call from the Anaheim Police Department about suspicious activities.