The Department of Homeland Security reissued for the seventh time a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin, which makes note of terrorists’ potential to use drones and chemical attacks outside of the groups’ occupied territory and conflict zones.
The NTAS Bulletin replaced in December 2015 the post-9/11 color-coded alert system. The higher levels of advisory in the NTAS system are Elevated Alert or Imminent Alert; neither have been used since the system went into effect.
“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,” the NTAS Bulletin warns, noting 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, to include the use of rental vehicles, small arms, straightedged blades or knives, homemade explosives, and poisons or toxins,” the Bulletin continues. “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. Many of these technologies are readily available. Additionally, terrorists continue to target commercial aviation and air cargo, including with concealed explosives.”
