By Jasper Ward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a joint warning on Monday about a potential public safety threat posed by violent extremists who may seek to replicate the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that claimed the lives of 14 individuals. The caution comes just a week before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
“The FBI and DHS are expressing concerns about the risk of copycat or retaliatory attacks stemming from the continued allure of using vehicle ramming as a strategy for individuals aspiring to commit acts of violence,” the agencies stated in a release.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a tragic incident unfolded as a man plowed a rented pickup truck into a gathering of celebrants along Bourbon Street in New Orleans, resulting in the deaths of more than a dozen people and injuries to many others.
The perpetrator of the attack was identified as a U.S. Army veteran who had professed allegiance to the Islamic State and was found to have recorded statements denouncing music, drugs, and alcohol.
The FBI and DHS underscored that such attacks, inspired by foreign terrorist groups, have been perpetrated both within the United States and abroad, utilizing rental vehicles, stolen automobiles, or personal cars.
To supplement a vehicular attack, the agencies also warned of potential threats involving the use of improvised explosive devices. They cautioned that previous targets have included pedestrians, law enforcement personnel, military members, and crowded public venues accessible from roadways.
“We urge the public to maintain vigilance in light of potential copycat or retaliatory attacks and to promptly report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement authorities,” the statement read.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by David Gregorio)
