The FBI and two other federal agencies issued a public safety warning on Dec. 12, highlighting potential threats to the U.S. during the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays.
The bureau, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Counterterrorism Center, cited the ongoing Israel–Hamas war as a potential trigger for attacks. However, the agencies didn't point to any specific plot.
“Although this announcement is not in response to any specific plotting activity, these targets likely remain attractive to lone actors inspired by a range of ideologies due to their accessibility and symbolic nature.”
The statement warns that "lone actors" could seek to carry out acts of violence at high-profile events, religious locations, large gatherings, and other locations throughout the winter.
"Such gatherings could become a convenient target for those inspired to commit violence against Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Arab communities," it reads, noting that "calls for violence may increase in the days leading up to the holidays and before other notable events this winter."
"Factors that could further exacerbate the threat of violence include escalations in the conflict between Israel and Hamas and notable instances of violence in the Homeland inspiring copycat or retaliatory attacks. We therefore urge everyone to remain vigilant and to report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement."
In addition to the increase in terror threats, officials also made note of a surge in recent "hoax bomb threats and active shooter threats targeting synagogues around the United States, likely intended to disrupt services and intimidate congregants," according to the statement.
Wray Warning
During a Senate hearing earlier in December, Mr. Wray was asked about alleged threats facing the United States.Mr. Graham made reference to a "blinking red lights analogy about 9/11 ... all the lights were blinking red before 9/11, apparently."
He then asked the FBI director, "Would you say there's multiple blinking red lights out there?"
Mr. Wray answered, "I see blinking red lights everywhere."
Weeks before, on Oct. 31, the FBI chief said Hamas's actions "will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago."
“This is not a time for panic, but it is a time for vigilance,” Mr. Wray said. “You often hear the expression if you see something, say something. ... That’s never been more true than now.”
Opinion Poll
The warning comes as a wartime opinion poll carried out among Palestinians published on Dec. 13 shows a rise in support for Hamas, which appears to have ticked up even in the devastated Gaza Strip, and an overwhelming rejection of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Nearly 90 percent said he must resign.Washington has called for the West Bank-based PA to eventually assume control of Gaza and run both territories as a precursor to statehood. U.S. officials have said that the Palestinian Authority must be revitalized, without letting on whether this would mean leadership changes.
The PA administers pockets of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and had governed Gaza until a takeover by Hamas in 2007. The Palestinians haven't held elections since 2006, when Hamas won a parliamentary majority.
No comments:
Post a Comment