Federal bulletin issued ahead of 9/11 anniversary warns foreign terrorist groups continue to encourage attacks

Key Points:

• Federal authorities warn that foreign terrorist organizations continue to encourage attacks in the U.S., especially around the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda actively promoting violence and hoax threats.
• The Department of Homeland Security highlights a more complex terrorism threat environment compared to 2001, noting that attacks are now often planned by individuals or small cells with varied ideological motives.
• FBI reports at least 16 arrests in the past 18 months related to plots supporting al-Qaeda or ISIS, while global membership of these groups is reportedly growing, with ISIS and al-Qaeda having up to 18,000 and 28,000 members respectively.
• Authorities express concern over terrorists experimenting with artificial intelligence to enhance propaganda and develop new attack methods, as well as the potential use of drones to target critical infrastructure or disrupt emergency responses.
• FBI leadership identifies drones as a top priority threat, emphasizing efforts to anticipate and prevent their possible use in future terrorist attacks within the United States.