FBI Director Christopher Wray shared a warning for the United States on Tuesday, saying that Hamas’ actions in the Middle East could inspire new terrorist attacks on domestic soil.
The comments from Wray came while he was testifying before the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, which was focused on discussing threats to America.
“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago,” Wray said.
In just the last few weeks, Wray says that there have been multiple foreign terrorist organizations that have called for attacks against Americans and the West.
Wray said in his testimony that the bureau’s first concerns are “violent extremists,” both groups and individuals, who may “draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives.”
“That includes not just homegrown violent extremists inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, but also domestic violent extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities,” Wray said.
Testifying alongside Wray was Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayoraks and several other U.S. officials.
Currently, Wray says there are “multiple, ongoing investigations” into people affiliated with Hamas, including a man in Houston who was arrested last week after the FBI found he was studying how to build bombs and posted online about his support for killing Jews.
Wray also said the FBI is investigating the brutal killing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois as a hate crime.
Since the Hamas surprise attack on Oct. 7, antisemitic rhetoric has risen across the globe. Wray said that Jewish communities in America are being targeted by extremists “across the spectrum.”
“Bottom line, we’re going to continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people and support our partners in Israel,” he said. “Protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism is, and remains, our No. 1 priority.”