The FBI and DHS are unaware of any specific, credible threats against the Homeland from homegrown violent extremists (HVEs), ISIL, or other violent extremist groups overseas in response to US military action in Iraq and pro-ISIL messaging.
Nevertheless, we continue to assess that violent extremists who support ISIL have demonstrated the
capability to attempt attacks on US targets overseas with little-to-no warning. We further
assess that—because of the individualized nature of the radicalization process—it is difficult to predict triggers that will contribute to HVEs attempting acts of violence. Moreover, HVEs who act independently -- lone offenders -- present law enforcement with limited opportunities to detect and disrupt plots, which frequently involve simple plotting against targets of opportunity.
... HVEs often attribute their mobilization to violence as resulting from longstanding grievances such as perceived anti-Muslim discrimination, US foreign policy, and US military actions, rather than a single event.
...ISIL’s English-language messaging has primarily been focused on calls for Muslims to
travel to and support ISIL’s self-proclaimed caliphate. Individuals in support of ISIL are calling for attacks in the Homeland and against US interests abroad, though we do not assess these to be credible threats at this time. ISIL and its online supporters have employed—and will almost certainly continue—Twitter “hashtag” campaigns that have gained mainstream media attention and been able to quickly reach a global audience of potential violent extremists, highlighting ISIL’s supporter message and encouraging individuals to commit acts of violence, in Iraq or in the West.
On the terminology:
The FBI and DHS define an HVE as a person of any citizenship who has lived and/or operated
primarily in the United States or its territories who advocates, is engaged in, or is preparing to engage in ideologically-motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) in furtherance of political or social objectives promoted by a foreign terrorist organization, but is acting independently of direction by a foreign terrorist organization.
HVEs are distinct from traditional domestic terrorists who engage in unlawful acts of violence or to intimidate civilian populations or attempt to influence domestic policy without direction from or influence from a foreign actor.
The FBI and DHS define a lone offender as an individual motivated by one or more violent extremist ideologies who, operating alone, supports or engages in acts of violence in furtherance of that ideology or ideologies that may involve influence from a larger terrorist organization or a foreign actor.
