WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. This NTAS Bulletin replaces the current Bulletin, which was set to expire tomorrow at 2:00 pm.
As of November 10, 2021, DHS is not aware of an imminent and credible threat to a specific location in the United States. The United States continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment as we approach several religious holidays and associated mass gatherings that in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence. Through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022, domestic violent extremists (DVEs), including racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists, will continue to pose a significant threat to our homeland. Of note, DVEs and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences will continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. The ongoing global pandemic continues to exacerbate these threats. Further, foreign terrorist organizations and DVEs continue to attempt to inspire potential followers to conduct attacks in the United States, including by exploiting recent events in Afghanistan.
“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. We have also renewed our commitment to communicate with the American public often about the evolving threat landscape,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Today, we are issuing the fourth NTAS Bulletin since January 2021. 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.”
Individuals can report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or a local Fusion Center. DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will continue to provide guidance to state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement and public safety partners about the current threat environment. DHS is also engaging industry partners to help identify and respond to the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and false narratives on social media and other online platforms, while protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DHS is prioritizing combating all forms of terrorism and targeted violence and increased information sharing as part of the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. To this end, the Department has taken several steps to include increasing efforts to share timely and actionable information and intelligence to the broadest audience at the lowest classification possible, establishing a dedicated domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence & Analysis, forming the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) to provide communities with the tools to help individuals before they radicalize to violence, and increasing investments in grant programs to strengthen nationwide capabilities to detect and protect against these threats.
This is the fourth NTAS Bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since January 2021, and it will expire on February 8, 2022. The NTAS Bulletin provides the public with information about the threat landscape facing the United States, as well as information about how to report suspicious activity. Read the NTAS Bulletin here.