Terror snapshot shows “homegrown” Islamist extremism in US continues to be cause for concern

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the October Terror Threat Snapshot last week, highlighting that 159 homegrown Jihadist cases in 30 states have been uncovered since 2013.

The cases included plots to attack the country, overseas travel, financial support, lying to authorities, and weapons charges.

Most recently, a 26-year-old man from Adams, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS following his pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Other developments shared in the report included the announcement that New York federal prosecutors would seek the death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov, who conducted the Oct. 31, 2017, vehicle attack on a bike path in New York City that left eight dead.

On Sept. 28, the Dutch police arrested seven individuals for plotting a large-scale event in the Netherlands, resulting in the seizure of AK-47s, small arms, grenades, completed bombs and bomb-making materials. The group was targeting two locations with the intent of maximizing the number of casualties.

The Department of State has deemed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, according to the Snapshot, adding the Al Qaeda-affiliated group was also designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and the designations will help isolate the group and cut off funding for their operations.

British officials also revealed ISIS-Khorasan members are in contact with U.K.-based terrorist cells, detailing the manner in which the Afghanistan-based arm of ISIS posed a threat to not just the U.K., but continental Europe as well.