Homeland Security Department Warns Of Terrorist Threat During Holidays

Washington, D.C.’s legal and political communities are top targets identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in an advisory last week about terrorism risks.

The United States faces a “heightened threat environment” from domestic extremists and foreign terrorist groups through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the agency warned.

The advisory resulted partly from Homeland Security monitoring of extremists’ social media messages, some of which express outrage over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions. They also suggest violent revenge against politicians, police and others who support or carry out the mandates.

“The ongoing global pandemic continues to exacerbate these threats, in part due to perceived government overreach in implementation of public health safety measures,” the National Threat Advisory System Bulletin says.

One set of intercepted extremist messages advocated an attack on an Amazon Web Service warehouse in Virginia.

“The plot highlights a departure from traditional targets and signifies potential willingness to attack private entities believed to be supporting or enabling the government’s perceived abuse of power,” according to an FBI Joint Intelligence Bulletin.

The bulletin did not warn of a specific U.S. target but did say explosives carried by drones or deadly chlorine gas could be used for the attacks.

Another social media message monitored by law enforcement asked, “How long before a politician is killed for mandating vaccines?”

At the same time, Islamic extremists are reportedly regrouping after the U.S. military exit from Afghanistan allowed them to regain control over the country. Military analysts testified to Congress after the withdrawal in August that terrorists could be ready to strike U.S. targets within six months.

The Homeland Security Department bulletin said the “foreign terrorist organizations” seek to “inspire potential followers to conduct attacks in the United States.”

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