Federal agencies are warning of an increased risk of violent attacks at holiday gatherings this year amid the Israel-Hamas war, Scripps News reports. The updated warning on Tuesday came fromthe FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center. The statement warned that the war would "heighten the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter, including holiday-related, faith-based, New Year's Eve, and First Amendment protected events related to the conflict."
Agencies said they don't have specific evidence of planned incidents. Instead, such holiday gatherings may present an appealing target for lone actors due to their religious or symbolic natures. Gatherings may present an opportunity for an attacker to target Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Arab communities. The FBI said foreign terrorist media organizations have called for attacks on U.S. soil after Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7. There has been a spike in reports of potential hate crimes and other violence from the public, and an increase of hoax reports of shooting and bomb threats at synagogues nationwide. The risk of attacks at holiday gatherings may be increased if conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates. The warning asks the public to stay vigilant and report potential threats to law enforcement.
Comments