‘Remain Vigilant’: After EU, FBI Warns Americans of ‘Lone Actor’ Violence During Holidays
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned Americans to remain vigilant due to the potential of violence by lone actors as tensions in West Asia rise.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday warned American citizens over potential violence which could be caused by lone actors during the upcoming Christmas-New Year’s holiday period citing tensions in West Asia due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
“(The war will heighten) the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter," the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Counterterrorism Center said in a public service announcement.
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They said that large gatherings throughout the holidays could be “convenient target(s)" for those who are inspired to commit violence against Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Arab communities.
“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," the announcement said.
“We therefore urge everyone to remain vigilant and to report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement," the announcement further added.
The US counterterrorism cell, FBI and the DHS said that there was a rise of “potential hate crimes or other criminal violations" following the October 7 attacks. They also said that they have noted an increase in hoax bombs and shooting threats against synagogues across the US. Synagogues are places where Jews offer their prayers.
The agencies, however, tried to assuage concerns and said the announcement is not a response to any “specific plotting activity". They said that since there are numerous ideologies involved, multiple targets will “likely remain attractive to lone actors".
“Given the steady drumbeat of calls for attacks by foreign terrorist organisations since October 7, we’re working around the clock to identify and disrupt potential attacks by those inspired by Hamas’s horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. He said the FBI saw a 60% jump in the number of hate crime probes across the US since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, with many targeting the Jewish community.
He said the FBI is also working to prevent potential attacks inspired by Hamas as calls for violence against the US also rose.
Last week, the European Union’s home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson warned that Europe faces a “huge risk of terrorist attacks" over the Christmas holiday period due to the fallout from the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
“With the war between Israel and Hamas, and the polarisation it causes in our society, with the upcoming holiday season, there is a huge risk of terrorist attacks in the European Union," EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters.
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