The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an alert last Friday warning that ISIS terrorists and other foreign terrorist organizations may target LGBTQ Pride events in June.
In a joint alert titled “Foreign Terrorist Organizations and their Supporters Likely Heighten Threat Environment during 2024 Pride Month,” FBI and DHS officials warned, “Foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month.”
The FBI and the DHS warned that the efforts of Foreign Terrorist Organizations to “commit or inspire violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride celebrations or LGBTQIA+-related venues, are compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other western countries.”
Friday’s alert explained that both foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters have used anti-LGBTQ rhetoric to target LGBTQ events and venues for previous attacks.
According to the alert, English-language ISIS messaging promoted an article in February of 2023 with “anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric” that targeted the LGBTQ community. The article also urged ISIS supporters to execute attacks on “unidentified soft targets,” which were not limited to LGBTQ venues.
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The FBI and the DHS noted that June 12 will mark the eighth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. According to the alert, pro-ISIS messaging labeled the attack, which killed 49 individuals and wounded 53 others, as “one of the high-profile attacks in Western countries.” The attack was later celebrated by supporters of foreign terrorist organizations.
Last week’s alert warned people to be alert for potential indicators of threats by foreign terrorist organizations during Pride Month, such as online and in-person threats, questionable probing of security measures at various events, “unusual” surveillance activities, attempts to enter restricted areas, and impersonation of law enforcement officials.
The Post Millennial reported that the FBI and DHS alert comes as U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data shows that the number of individuals on the terror watch list who have tried entering the country has significantly increased under President Joe Biden’s administration.
CBP data shows that 172 individuals on the terror watch list attempted to enter the U.S. illegally in Fiscal Year 2023 and that 76 individuals on the terror watch list have already attempted to enter the U.S. illegally in Fiscal Year 2024.
FBI Director Christopher Wray previously warned of increased security threats facing the United States, telling Congress, “I’ve never seen a time where all the threats, or so many of the threats, are all elevated, all at exactly the same time.”
