FBI, DHS warn ‘threats to public safety’ amplified by Israel-Hamas conflict during holiday season

FBI, DHS warn ‘threats to public safety’ amplified by Israel-Hamas conflict during holiday season

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are warning the public of heightened threats to public safety this holiday season and through winter associated with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. 

The FBI says it is "closely monitoring threats to public safety during the holiday season which may be amplified" by the war. 

"We take all potential threats seriously and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action," the bureau says in a PSA.

Per an assessment from the FBI and DHS, ongoing tensions related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas "likely heighten the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter, including holiday-related, faith-based, New Year’s Eve, and First Amendment protected events related to the conflict." 

The bureau says these targets are likely to remain "attractive to lone actors inspired by a range of ideologies due to their accessibility and symbolic nature."