U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has issued the agency’s fourth National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin since January 2021.
DHS indicated the country continually faces a diverse and challenging threat environment. Several religious holidays and mass gatherings in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence.
“DHS has renewed its commitment to work with our partners across every level of government, the private sector, and local communities to combat all forms of terrorism and targeted violence,” Mayorkas said. “We have also renewed our commitment to communicate with the American public often about the evolving threat landscape. The threat stream has not changed significantly; however, this is an important product that keeps the public updated about threats facing the United States and underscores the importance of the public to staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
Per DHS, domestic violent extremists (DVEs), including racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and anti-government / anti-authority violent extremists, continually pose a homeland threat.
Suspicious activity and threats of violence that include online threats can be reported to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or a local Fusion Center.
The DHS maintains DVEs and the others motivated by foreign terrorists and influences abroad will continue to exploit online forums as a means of influencing and spreading violent extremist narratives while promoting violent activity.