The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) raised alarms nationwide on Friday with an advisory concerning al-Qaida's ongoing intent to execute attacks on American soil. The alert, specifically mentioning al-Qaida and its Yemen-based affiliate, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), arrives as the nation braces for a series of high-profile public gatherings, including the memorial for the recently assassinated conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Obtained by Newsmax, the bulletin underscores that these extremist factions are likely capitalizing on their propaganda and global conflicts, especially in regions with U.S. military presence, to motivate potential assailants. This advisory pushes government officials towards heightened alertness, advising against the public disclosure of travel itineraries, cautioning them to restrict visibility of work identification, and to stay vigilant for surveillance near federal buildings.
The NCTC, established post-9/11, also pinpointed "soft targets" such as concerts and sports events, urging local law enforcement to increase visible security measures, expand patrols, and conduct thorough pre-event evaluations to thwart and deter prospective plots. While the memo's primary aim is not to incite public fear but to equip local and state agencies with preventive strategies, the timing of the warning has inevitably amplified concerns as thousands are set to attend Kirk's memorial service.
In an independent statement on Friday, conservative journalist Laura Loomer conveyed a more ominous message, asserting that, according to her sources, Islamic terrorist cells linked to Al Qaeda have infiltrated U.S. borders and are actively planning a sequence of coordinated attacks. Loomer, writing on platform X, reported that federal counterterrorism officials have, for the first time, openly acknowledged the immediacy of these threats.
She also suggested that terrorists might mimic first responders, acquiring police and EMT uniforms to blend in during crises and misdirect crowds before executing secondary assaults. Moreover, Loomer claimed that potential targets have been scouted, including hospitals in major cities like New York and Los Angeles, with the intent to overwhelm emergency services and maximize casualties.
A Department of Homeland Security insider described such a prospect as "horrific beyond comprehension." These developments follow a June video from al-Qaida in Yemen's leader, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, who issued a call to arms against the U.S., naming President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as targets. The video surfaced post U.S. reaffirmation of its alliance with Israel.
Despite being weakened by American military campaigns, al-Qaida has shown adaptability, endorsing lone-wolf operations and leveraging conflict zones. A report from the Department of Homeland Security last year remarked on the group's renewed efforts to engage Western audiences and its unwavering dedication to attacking the U.S.
The complexity of the current threat environment, which intertwines international and domestic factors, demands constant vigilance across all government levels. Amid this tense backdrop, the NCTC, under the guidance of @NCTCKent, is intensifying collaborations with law enforcement to counteract these threats, as revealed by an unclassified intelligence document shared by @DailyCaller on Twitter.
