FBI Warns Of Possible "ISIS-Inspired" Attacks On US Churches, Holiday Gatherings
By Tyler Durden
One day after the Islamic State published a list of the names and addresses of thousands of churches in the United States and called on its adherents to attack them during the holiday season, according to a message posted late-night Wednesday in the group’s “Secrets of Jihadis” social media group, the FBI warned of possible ISIS-inspired attacks in the US. Coming just days after the Berlin Christmas market terrorist attack in Berlin, U.S. federal authorities cautioned local law enforcement on Friday to be aware that ISIS supporters have been calling for their sympathizers to attack holiday gatherings in the United States, including churches, a law enforcement official said.
The notice from the FBI and DHS was issued “out of an abundance of caution” following the publication of the ISIS-targeted churches.
Just in: Feds warn of ISIS threats to churches and holiday events https://t.co/qZSNQaiqH3 https://t.co/KD7grYnP2M
— CNN (@CNN) December 23, 2016
“The FBI is aware of the recent link published online that urges attacks against U.S. churches. As with similar threats, the FBI is tracking this matter while we investigate its credibility,” the FBI said in a statement.
Islamic State sympathizers “continue aspirational calls for attacks on holiday gatherings, including targeting churches,” CNN quoted the bulletin as saying. The notice describes different signs of suspicious activity for which police should be alert, it said.
The bulletin noted, however, that there we no specific, credible threats yet. However, as reported here previously, officials did say pro-Islamic State websites have allegedly published a list of churches in the US, according to reports, although the list was already available to the public.
The warning, issued in a bulletin to local law enforcement, said there were no known specific, credible threats.
A member of NYPD’s Counterterrorism Bureau patrols the Union Square Holiday
market, December 20, 2016.
Source: FBI Warns Of Possible "ISIS-Inspired" Attacks On US Churches, Holiday Gatherings
