FBI Director Christopher Wray is once again warning Congress and the nation regarding the rising threat of Islamic terrorism in the U.S. since the October 7th attack in Israel. On Tuesday, during hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Director Wray was questioned by Senator Lindsey Graham regarding the overall threat matrix facing the nation.
A time-stamped video of that exchange is below.
In his prepared written testimony, Director Wray states the following:
“Our top concern stems from lone offenders inspired by — or reacting to — the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as they pose the most likely threat to Americans, especially Jewish, Muslim and Arab-American communities in the United States. We have seen an increase in reported threats to Jewish and Muslim people, institutions and houses of worship here in the United States and are moving quickly to mitigate them.”
In line with Director Wray's testimony, a new DHS/DOJ intelligence bulletin sent to law enforcement nationwide warns that groups like al Qaeda and ISIS will likely use the Israel-Hamas war “to increase calls for violence in the U.S. during the holiday season compared to prior years.” The bulletin states the likely “primary targets” could include churches, synagogues and members of the Jewish community.
And overseas, the EU's Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, told reporters on Tuesday 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 militant group Hamas. Her comments came on the sidelines of a meeting of EU interior ministers gathered in Brussels.
German and French security officials are also warning of a heightened risk of Islamist terror attacks during the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays.
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