Friday, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced the issuance of an updated National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin pertaining to the terrorism threat to the U.S. homeland.

“After careful consideration of the current terror threat environment—and with input from intelligence and law enforcement partners, I have made the decision to update and extend the NTAS Bulletin for six months,” said Acting Secretary Duke.

“Our enemies remain focused on attacking the United States, and they are constantly adapting.”

“DHS and its partners are stepping up efforts to keep terrorists out of America and to prevent terrorist recruitment and radicalization here at home, and we urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.”

(Across the country, we all play a role in keeping each other safe. Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and YouTube)

New NTAS Bulletin Details

• We continue to face one of the most challenging threat environments since 9/11, as foreign terrorist organizations exploit the Internet to inspire, enable, or direct individuals already here in the homeland to commit terrorist acts.
  • Homegrown terror suspects increasingly rely on technology, such as end-to-end encrypted social media applications, to avoid detection.

• Terrorist groups are urging recruits to adopt easy-to-use tools to target public places and events.
  • Specific attack tactics have included the use of vehicle ramming, small arms, straight-edged blades or knives, homemade explosives, and poisons or toxins.
• Some terrorist groups overseas are using battlefield experiences to pursue new technologies and tactics, such as unmanned aerial systems and chemical agents that could be used outside the conflict zones.
  • Additionally, terrorists continue to target commercial aviation and air cargo, including with concealed explosives.
• Violent extremist media encourages individuals worldwide to launch attacks using all means possible.
  • Continued U.S. and partner successes in disrupting and defeating terrorists on the battlefield may encourage homegrown terrorists to carry out acts of violence in the homeland instead of attempting to travel overseas to fight or in retaliation for apparent losses.
• Additionally, foreign terrorist fighters who have acquired training and battle-tested terrorism experience may flee from terrorist-controlled territories with a desire to conduct attacks elsewhere, including the United States.

U.S. Government Counterterrorism Efforts

• DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continue to provide guidance to state, local, tribal and territorial partners related to the current threat environment. DHS also partners closely with the private sector to provide risk assessments and coordinate security measures with business owners and operators.
  • The public may continue to observe law enforcement and security activity in and around public places and events.

• DHS protects the homeland from terrorism by working closely with the FBI and other intelligence partners to detect and disrupt terror suspects,
  • putting in place additional screening and vetting measures to identify suspicious travelers and cargo,
  • combating violent radicalization and terrorist recruitment in our communities, monitoring emerging threats, and engaging with foreign partners.
• More broadly, DHS remains committed to preventing violence and threats meant to intimidate or coerce specific populations on the basis of their religion, ethnicity or identity

To read the complete new NTAS Bulletin, click https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system.

This marks the fifth iteration of the Bulletin on the terror threat to the U.S. homeland.

The Bulletin has been reissued three times previously since its initial release in December 2015.