The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security on Friday warned that the one year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel could incite violence in the United States.
The warning comes as tensions in the Middle East escalate over a series of attacks between Israel and Iran. Iran is considered the power behind the terrorist organizations of Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas orchestrated the Oct. 7 attack on Israel last year.
The officials noted that there has already been an increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim attacks over the past year, because of the conflict. But they warned even more attacks from lone actors and extremists could occur at Jewish, Muslim, or Arab institutions, such as including synagogues, mosques/Islamic centers, and community centers.
"The FBI and DHS assess the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks that initiated the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as any further significant escalations in the conflict, may be a motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators to engage in violence or threaten public safety," the agencies noted in a Public Service Announcement.
"[Foreign terrorist organizations] and other violent extremists likely will continue to exploit narratives related to the conflict to call for lone attackers to conduct violence in the United States," the agencies continued. "Individuals inspired by this online messaging could act alone to commit an attack with little to no warning."
U.S. intelligence agencies have also warned that Iran and other American adversaries are attempting to "stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process," after Iranian criminals hacked into former President Donald Trump's and President Joe Biden's presidential campaigns over the summer.
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