The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin June 7 outlining the fact that the U.S. is in a “heightened threat environment” that likely will increase in the coming months.
The bulletin, which will expire Nov. 30, said “high-profile events could be exploited to justify acts of violence” against targets such as schools, public gatherings, faith-based institutions, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, perceived ideological opponents, U.S. critical infrastructure and the media, according to a news release announcing the bulletin.
“As recent acts of violence in communities across the country have so tragically demonstrated, the nation remains in a heightened threat environment, and we expect that environment will become more dynamic in the coming months,” Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the release. “The Department of Homeland Security remains steadfast in our commitment to provide timely information and resources to the American public and our partners across every level of government, in law enforcement, and in the private sector.”
Mayorkas said added that the commitment to provide Americans with information and resource requires “regular engagements with stakeholders to maintain awareness about the threat environment, trainings and online resources to help communities stay safe, increased sharing of information with law enforcement partners and millions of dollars in grant funding opportunities for communities and organizations to enhance security and advance prevention efforts,” according to the release.
