Federal law enforcement officials issued a terrorism warning for upcoming July 4 celebrations, saying the potential exists for homegrown terrorists to strike.
ABC News obtained a copy of a bulletin sent out to nationwide law enforcement agencies nationwide. In it, the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center said there aren't any known attack plots, but that national holidays present opportunities for terrorists.
"The FBI, DHS, and NCTC remain concerned that [they] could target upcoming Independence Day celebrations, gatherings, or parades, though we are unaware of any current plots specifically targeting such events," the bulletin reads. "We note that attacks can occur with little to no warning because of the frequently lower levels of security around civilian targets, challenges in securing large crowds, and calls for attacks against soft targets."
In the post-Sept. 11 world, the government routinely warns Americans of potential attacks ahead of holidays and national events. The FBI said in May it has more than 850 open investigations into domestic terrorism.
On July 14, 2016, a Muslim terrorist killed nearly 100 people in Nice, France by driving his truck down a busy, pedestrian-only boulevard during Bastille Day celebrations.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.