Barack Obama has said that Americans must remain 'tough and resolute' after bombings in New York and New Jersey - but stopped short of calling the bombings 'terrorism.'

Obama, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, said in a brief speech that the recent bombings in Manhattan and New Jersey should not cause citizens to give in to fear.

'They want to inspire fear in all of us and disrupt the way we live, undermine our values even as we are vigilant and aggressive in preventing senseless acts of violence,' Obama said.

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Barack Obama warned that America must not give in to fear in wake of New Jersey and New York bombings on Monday, and said people in those cities were great examples of toughness

On Monday morning a police robot accidentally detonated a bomb left at a New Jersey train station. No one was hurt. The five bombs found there were the latest in a series of incidents

'We all have a role to play as citizens in making sure we don't submit to that effort.'

He also said that there was 'no better example' of the 'toughness and resoluteness' he hoped to see than 'the people of New York and New Jersey.'

He quoted New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, with whom he had met earlier, as saying: 'Folks around here they don't get scared.

'They're tough, they're resilient, they go about their business every single day.'

Given the explosions that occurred Saturday in New York and Monday morning in New Jersey, however - and that this month marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11 - the lack of the word 'terror' was notable.

The President continued by saying that the 'toughness and resoluteness' of New York and New Jersey citizens 'recognizes that neither individuals nor organizations like ISIL can ultimately change our way of life.

'That's the kind of strength that's needed... not only in the days to come, but in the years to come.'

'As Americans we will not give in to fear.'

The President also said that investigators and agencies were 'working seamlessly as one team to make sure that justice is done.'

On Saturday a bomb exploded on West 23 Street (pictured) in Manhattan; that same day a pipe bomb went off in New Jersey. Obama never referred to the NY or NJ events as terrorism

He also promised 'continue to coordinate the drive to destroy ISIS,' targeting leaders and infrastructure, and that he would talk to the Prime Minister of Iraq at the UN summit to work on coordinated efforts.

'As we take their territory it shows ISIL to be the failed cause that it is,' Obama said, explaining that the so-called 'Islamic State' was losing ground both in Iraq and Syria.

Neither ISIS nor any other international terrorist organization has claimed any connection with the New York and New Jersey attacks.

He also said that the government was going to 'enlist technology companies and religious leaders to push back against all extremist content and messages of hate.'

During the speech Obama also mentioned the stabbing attacks on nine people that occurred in a Minnesota mall Saturday.

He did raise the specter of terrorism at this point, saying the stabbing was being investigated as a terrorist attack but that it was not thought to be connected to the NY and NJ bombings.

He made no mention that suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami had been announced captured in New Jersey just minutes before his speech.

CNN speculated that the President would not have been notified by authorities until the arrest was absolutely confirmed.