Federal authorities have issued a security bulletin warning that foreign terrorist organizations are actively encouraging attacks and circulating propaganda ahead of the upcoming 9/11 anniversary.

Key Points

• The FBI warns that domestic actors may be inspired by foreign propaganda to conduct violence or hoax threats with little warning.
• ISIS and al-Qaeda currently maintain estimated global memberships of 18,000 and 28,000 individuals, respectively.
• Federal officials have arrested at least 16 people in the U.S. over the past 18 months for allegedly supporting plots linked to these groups.
• The Department of Homeland Security reports that terrorists are increasingly experimenting with generative AI to create propaganda and explore methods for biological or explosive attacks.
• Law enforcement agencies are prioritizing the potential use of drones against critical infrastructure, noting that such technology could make future attacks harder to detect.

Why it Matters

The evolving threat landscape reflects a shift from centralized international organizations to dispersed, independent cells that are harder for intelligence agencies to track. This heightened environment forces federal authorities to adapt to emerging risks like AI and drone technology to prevent potential acts of domestic violence.