Introduction
Introduction Statistics Contact Development Disclaimer Help
.-') _ .-') _
( OO ) ) ( OO ) )
.-----. ,--./ ,--,' ,--./ ,--,'
' .--./ | \ | |\ | \ | |\
| |('-. | \| | )| \| | )
/_) |OO )| . |/ | . |/
|| |`-'| | |\ | | |\ |
(_' '--'\ | | \ | | | \ |
`-----' `--' `--' `--' `--'
lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
DHS and FBI warn about potential lone wolf attacks ahead of July 4
celebrations
By John Miller, Holly Yan, CNN
Updated:
2:10 PM EDT, Wed July 2, 2025
Source: CNN
Attacks perpetrated by lone actors are the biggest terrorism threat to
July 4th festivities in New York City and elsewhere, federal
authorities said in a threat assessment obtained by CNN.
The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement
agencies issued a joint bulletin in late June saying “the most
significant terrorism threat facing the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
stems from lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to
commit acts of violence.”
“These individuals are often motivated by a broad range of racial,
ethnic, political, religious, anti-government, societal, or personal
grievances,” the assessment continued.
But the threat is not limited to New York City. The bulletin said other
large gatherings could be targeted.
“Special events with high attendance and media coverage … remain
attractive targets” for domestic and foreign terrorists and violent
extremists who may want to “cause mass casualties or draw attention
to their causes,” the bulletin said.
The agencies said they had not received any reports of specific threats
at the massive fireworks show or related events. However,
“high-profile, large events can draw interest from malicious actors
looking for targets of opportunity to perpetrate criminal schemes,”
the bulletin said.
Officials issued a similar warning shortly before NOLA New Year’s
attack
It’s not uncommon for authorities to issue threat assessments before
major events. But several recent, high-profile attacks have spurred
additional concern heading into July 4.
“We are concerned about the potential threat of copycat attacks
inspired by the 2025 New Year’s Day vehicle-ramming attack in New
Orleans and continued FTO (foreign terrorist organization) messaging
calling for attacks against Western targets,” the bulletin said.
On January 1, a driver intentionally rammed a of revelers in New
Orleans’ bustling French Quarter, .
The assailant, a Texas-born Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, was
killed in a shootout with police. Investigators later discovered he had
recorded several videos before the attack that mentioned .
Just one month before that massacre, the FBI and DHS warned about the
threat of violence from lone offenders and the , according to two
internal memos obtained by CNN.
The Israel-Hamas war could inspire July 4 attacks, bulletin says
Tensions over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have been linked to a spate
of recent violence in the United States, and authorities say similar
attacks could erupt on July 4.
“Most attackers motivated at least in part by the Israel-HAMAS
conflict have selected targets with a symbolic link to Israel, houses
of worship, or locations associated with houses of worship. Individuals
with grievances linked to the conflict could also perceive large
gatherings, such as Independence Day celebrations, as opportunistic
targets symbolic of the West in general,” the threat assessment said.
The DHS and FBI cited last month’s firebomb attack in Boulder,
Colorado, that targeted a group of demonstrators supporting Israelis
who were held hostage by Hamas.
Dozens of people were injured, and .
The attack marked “the most recent act of terrorist violence in the
Homeland motivated by the Israel-HAMAS conflict,” the joint bulletin
said. “This attack came shortly after the (May 21) attack in
Washington, DC.”
Drones could pose a risk, too
Drones have also raised the specter of possible violence at large
holiday events, the threat assessment said.
“Unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) activities may pose a
hazard to participants and attendees, delay events, and disrupt law
enforcement operations,” the FBI and DHS said.
“Although we have no credible, specific reporting regarding illicit
plans to use UAS to target the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, we
assess that unauthorized UAS operations have the potential to increase
public safety risks.”
While most drones are flown legally by hobbyists, they “have also
been used to facilitate terrorist and other criminal acts,” the
threat assessment said.
“Various state and nonstate actors have increased their use and
modification of short-range UAS to conduct surveillance of adversary
positions, drop small munitions on targets, and detonate
explosive-laden UAS on impact to targets in conflict zones abroad,”
the bulletin said.
“Malicious use of UAS poses a potential risk to spectators,
volunteers, security personnel, and first responders in and around the
event.”
<- back to index
You are viewing proxied material from codevoid.de. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.