FBI and federal agencies warn about heightened threat environment after Hamas attack in Israel

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center issued a warning that the threat of violence will likely be heightened throughout the winter as a result of the Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7. 

The agencies said Tuesday that their public service announcement "is not in response to any specific plotting activity," but that the "threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter" remains active. 

Foreign terrorist groups have called for lone actor attacks in the United States since Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists entered Israel and killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others, the government said. 

Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists also increased calls for violence against the Jewish community and celebrated such targeted attacks, the agencies also said. Additionally, law enforcement has seen an increase in fake bomb and active shooter threats against synagogues across the United States since Oct. 7.

The Jewish community is not the only one that should be on heightened alert. The agencies warned that Christian, Muslim, and Arab communities may also be targeted. 

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