Lisa Monaco, the U.S. Deputy Attorney General, has stated that the United States is facing a surge in internal threats since the beginning of the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, according to the ABC network.
Monaco mentioned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had to scrutinize over 1800 reports of threats related to the war that started on October 7. Currently, the bureau is conducting more than 100 open investigations somehow connected to the conflict. She highlighted the primary concern over lone wolves and small groups that act without prior warning, saying, “We are at a unique moment where what worries us most – those of us in the national security and law enforcement community – are individuals or small groups who often become radicalized online and are motivated and influenced by a range of ideologies, from foreign terrorism and foreign terrorist organizations to domestic grievances.”
The Deputy Attorney General expressed, “What we often see in the most lethal form is ideologies driven by racial or ethnic motivations.”
While Monaco noted that in many cases, the “threats or tips received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation were resolved without any incident,” the sheer volume of threats has put significant pressure on law enforcement authorities in the United States. Agents and prosecutors are chasing potential leads across the country in collaboration with local partners. Monaco stated, “These are threats and hoaxes that can involve allegations of terrorism financing.”
She also pointed out that the Justice Department has witnessed an increase in threats targeting political and government officials. Just this week, she referred to cases filed against individuals accused of threatening a U.S. Supreme Court judge, FBI agents, and three presidential candidates.
Despite many of these threats being resolved without incident, the volume has put considerable strain on U.S. law enforcement. Agents and prosecutors are working across the country, in cooperation with state and local partners, to track down potential leads. This includes threats that may involve claims of terrorist financing.
Furthermore, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued a public service announcement alerting the public to the likelihood of increased threats of violence in the United States during the winter season. This is in response to ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict and includes concerns about violence targeting public gatherings, such as holiday events, faith-based gatherings, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The agencies warn that these calls for violence may escalate leading up to the holidays and other notable events this winter. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement.
