With Pride Month about three weeks away, the FBI and DHS issued a warning about foreign terrorist organizations targeting LGBTQ+ events and venues.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued an urgent warning last week warning about foreign terrorist organizations potentially targeting LGBTQ+ events and venues during Pride month.
Pride Month, which celebrates and commemorates the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, is held in June every year.
But while Pride Month is all about celebration, it comes at a time of heightened fear of anti-LGBTQ+ hate and extremist incidents.
Both departments announced last Friday that foreign terrorist organizations or supporters, such as ISIS, may seek to exploit upcoming LGBTQ+ pride events to “commit or inspire violence.”
The announcement said that the possible threats in this year’s Pride Month is “compounded” by the “current heightened threat environment” in the United States and other western countries.
This June would mark the eighth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in June 2016, when an American-born gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
The attack, described as one of the nation’s worst terror attacks after 9/11, has been praised by ISIS sympathizers on pro-Islamic State online forums.
Although there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, it was reported that the gunman called 911 before or during the shooting to make a statement swearing his allegiance to ISIS.
And in February 2023, an ISIS forum “called for followers to conduct attacks on unidentified soft targets, although the attacks and targets were not specific to LGBTQIA+ venues,” the agencies wrote.
The FBI and DHS said there are several possible indicators that an attack might be planned to look out for.
Among them include violent threats made online, in person, or through the mail, as well as someone taking photos of security-related equipment or personnel, and requesting information on events or crowd sizes without a reasonable explanation.
They may also unusually surveil gatherings or events, and attempt to enter a restricted area, bypass security or impersonate law enforcement officers.
To report a threat, you can contact the nearest FBI field office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
The advisory also warns people attending the Pride events to be aware of their surroundings at all times and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Although the alert did not specifically mention New York City, which hosts one of the world’s largest pride events, organizers of NYC Pride told local outlets that safety for all gatherings is paramount.
“We will do what we always do, which is work with law enforcement and our private security to make sure this is as safe as possible,” Sandra Perez, NYC Pride’s executive director, told NBC 4.
The NYPD also issued a statement regarding its preparation to provide security for Pride Month events this summer.
Source: https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/137521/fbi-warning-terrorist-groups-target-pride-month-June
