On Wednesday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of new National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security warning the U.S. remains in a heightened threat environment.
Quoting the bulletin (line spaces added for clarity):
"Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland.
In addition, domestic actors and foreign terrorist organizations continue to maintain a visible presence online in attempts to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland.
Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence, citing factors such as reactions to current events and adherence to violent extremist ideologies.
In the coming months, threat actors could exploit several upcoming events to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the midterm elections, the holiday season and associated large gatherings, the marking of two years since the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and potential sociopolitical developments connected to ideological beliefs or personal hostility.
Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents."
In addition (line spaces added for clarity):
"Some domestic violent extremists have expressed grievances based on perceptions that the government is overstepping its Constitutional authorities or failing to perform its duties.
Historically, issues related to immigration and abortion have been cited by prior attackers as inspiration for violence.
Potential changes in border security enforcement policy, an increase in noncitizens attempting to enter the U.S., or other immigration-related developments may heighten these calls for violence."
AlertsUSA urges readers to exercise caution and vigilance in the runup to the end-of-year holidays. For well over a decade, terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have openly published dozens of terror tutorials and how-to guides for their followers. Most instruct the readers to focus on soft targets without secure perimeters and to consider the use of simple, easy to acquire weapons such as vehicles for ramming packed crowds distracted by joyful holiday activities and are not necessarily on alert for danger.
Examples of such an attack include:
If you are going to be out and about in public over the holidays, it behooves you to keep the ear buds in your pocket and to stay alert.
Letter Bombs at U.S. and Ukrainian Embassies
On Thursday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a security increase at USGOV interests across Europe following the receipt of letter bombs at a number of locations across Spain, including the Prime Minister's Moncloa residence, Spain’s Defense Ministry, a European Union satellite center located at the Torrejón air base outside Madrid, the U.S. embassy and Ukrainian embassies in Madrid, and an arms factory in northeastern Spain that makes hand grenades used in the Ukraine war. One person was injured in the attacks.
On Friday, Czech police evacuated the Ukrainian consulate in the city of Brno after a suspicious parcel arrived there. A police spokesperson said the parcel, which was examined using an X-ray machine, resembled the letter bombs mailed in Spain. Spanish media reports each of the bombs contained a small amount of explosives and metal balls.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, at least seven Ukraine embassies also received "bloody parcels" containing animal eyes and other body parts.
No one has claimed responsibility for the letter bombs or parcels and authorities have not released information about possible suspects.
AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant. |
