Newark police have deployed extra security to protect Sen. Cory Booker in response to a death threat against the former mayor, officials said Saturday.

In a statement, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said police were working with U.S. Capitol Police to protect the New Jersey Democrat.

"The Newark Police Division has been notified by the United States Capitol Police (USCP) regarding a threat on the life of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and his family members," Baraka said. Members of the police division's executive protection unit were assigned to provide security.

Representatives for Booker's office and the U.S. Capitol Police would not comment on the threat.

Officials did not disclose more details on the nature of the threat or say if there were any arrests.

Booker, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, has been viewed as a possible Democratic candidate for the White House in 2020.

The former Newark mayor and councilman recently traveled to Alabama to campaign for Doug Jones, who won an upset victory against Republican Roy Moore and became the first Democrat to take a U.S. Senate seat in the deep-red state in more than two decades.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook.

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