Homeland Security sees a heightened terrorism threat in the United States

The United States remains in a heightened threat environment, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which says several recent attacks have highlighted the dynamic and complex nature of the threat environment.

In the coming months, DHS officials expect the threat environment to become more dynamic as several high-profile events could be exploited to justify acts of violence against a range of possible targets.

The agency said targets could include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents.

Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence due to factors such as personal grievances, reactions to current events, and adherence to violent extremist ideologies, including racially or ethnically motivated or anti-government/anti-authority violent extremism.

Foreign adversaries—including terrorist organizations and nation-state adversaries—also remain intent on exploiting the threat environment to promote or inspire violence, sow discord, or undermine U.S. democratic institutions.

DHS continues to assess that the primary threat of mass casualty violence in the United States stems from lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances.