FBI Urges Authorities To Be Alert for Possible Violence in U.S. Due to Mideast Conflict

A joint FBI-Department of Homeland Security bulletin issued over the weekend warns local authorities and private sector interests to be alert for possible violent consequences within the United States by sympathizers to "various parties" in the conflict involving Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. The bulletin states clearly there is no danger of an imminent threat.

ABC News sources in recent weeks have stated that federal law enforcement has seen no unusual activities among extremist sympathizers in U.S. and Canadian communities where Hezbollah and Hamas have found financial support in the past. 

Intelligence community sources say a close eye has been kept on known members and supporters of Middle East extremist groups within the United State, but have seen no unusual activity, including any unusual contact with identified intelligence agents of foreign governments.   

In 1997, a group of "lone wolf" Palestinian sympathizers in New York City were interrupted by police during an attempt to bomb the subway system. They were immediately denounced by Hamas.

An organized protest at the United Nations headquarters in New York by individuals sympathetic to Israel’s position in the current conflict is planned for today. Below is the joint FBI-DHS bulletin issued over the weekend: Escalation of Arab-Israeli Conflict Could Impact the Homeland "The abduction of Israeli soldiers by the Palestinian terrorist group HAMAS and the militant Shi’a group Hizballah and the subsequent Israeli military response have escalated the already volatile situation in the region. ………  While DHS and the FBI have no information indicating an imminent threat of attack in the Homeland, it is possible that individuals residing in the United States, who sympathize with the various parties to the conflict, could act on their grievances. DHS and the FBI have no indicators that individuals are preparing to conduct such action at the current time, but we urge vigilance during this heightened state of tension in the Middle East. DHS and the FBI will continue to keep recipients advised of any change in the threat situation."