The State Department issued a global security alert on Friday, cautioning about the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions targeting U.S. citizens and interests.
According to three sources, CBS News has received intelligence indicating that ISIS has made threats against Pride events in certain parts of Europe.
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The State Department bulletin has issued a warning regarding the heightened risk of violence targeted at LGBTQI+ individuals and events, which is inspired by foreign terrorist organizations. This global threat warning comes as an update to the previous one issued in October 2023.
On Friday, a new alert was issued, following last week’s warning from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security about the potential targeting of LGBTQIA+-related events and venues.
The advisory warned that there is a potential for foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters to take advantage of the larger gatherings that are expected to take place during the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month.
June is a month of celebration and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community, known as PRIDE month. It is marked by a series of events and festivities in several countries, including the United States.
According to two sources, CBS News has learned that there is concern about a domestic threat from ISIS, even though the State Department bulletin is primarily intended for overseas travel.
In May, the Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team, comprising the FBI, DHS, and the National Counterterrorism Center, published guidelines addressing violent extremist attacks, plotting, and messaging that target the LGBTQIA+ community. The guidelines highlighted a notable incident that occurred in October 2023, involving a user of a popular U.S. video game company who openly pledged allegiance to Hamas and ISIS. This individual posted videos advocating for these attacks. The guidance emphasized the importance of fostering stronger collaboration between the LGBTQIA+ community and public safety authorities.
In March, Moscow, Russia experienced a significant ISIS attack.
“We are collaborating with our partners to assess the current threat landscape, keeping the American public informed, and safeguarding our homeland. We strongly encourage the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement,” stated a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security on Friday.
