Home Consumer Anniversary of October 7, 2023 HAMAS Attacks May Motivate Individuals to Violence...

Anniversary of October 7, 2023 HAMAS Attacks May Motivate Individuals to Violence in the United States

Nova Music Festival memorial ID 318743797 © Shany Bruchim | Dreamstime.com
A memorial at the site of the Nova Music Festival (ID 318743797 © Shany Bruchim | Dreamstime.com)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are issuing this Public Service Announcement to highlight potential threats in the United States from a variety of actors in response to the one-year anniversary of the HAMAS attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and consistent calls by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) to their supporters seeking to provoke violence in the West.

THREAT

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. Over the past year, we have observed violent extremist activity and hate crimes1 in the United States linked to the conflict. Jewish, Muslim, or Arab institutions — including synagogues, mosques/Islamic centers, and community centers — and large public gatherings, such as memorials, vigils, or other lawful demonstrations, present attractive targets for violent attacks or for hoax threats by a variety of threat actors, including violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators. Such actors may view the anniversary as an opportunity to conduct an attack or other high-profile, illegal activity.

FTOs 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. Online messaging associated with FTOs and other violent extremists highlighting the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks could motivate threat actors across ideologies, including those who espouse violent anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, to engage in violence. Individuals inspired by this online messaging could act alone to commit an attack with little to no warning.

RESOURCES

  • Call 911 to report emergencies, including imminent threats to life.
  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
  • The FBI and DHS encourage the public to promptly report information concerning suspicious activity to tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
  • For concerns involving US citizens abroad, to include reporting missing persons or individuals taken as hostages, please call the Department of State’s Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) toll-free hotline at (888) 407-4747 or complete Crisis Intake Form at https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake.

 


1The FBI defines a hate crime as a crime motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Hate crimes fall within FBI’s legal authorities. Some hate crimes meet the DHS and FBI definition of domestic terrorism but hate crimes can also be committed without the intent required for terrorist acts, as terrorism generally requires a broader intended effect outside the individual victim. Intelligence and analysis may collect and report on hate crimes to the extent that they constitute or inform an understanding of reportable targeted violence. 

Faith Based Events

Disclaimer

The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components


The Internet Crime Complaint Center is a division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning suspected Internet-facilitated criminal activity. The IC3 gives victims a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations on the Internet.