The FBI is on high alert as the Jewish community in the United States faces an increased risk of terror attacks ahead of the upcoming Passover holiday.
Speaking at a conference on protecting Jewish institutions on Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that both lone-wolf extremists and foreign terrorist organizations pose a severe threat.
“We at the bureau remain particularly concerned that lone actors could target large gatherings, high profile events, or symbolic or religious locations for violence – particularly a concern, of course, as we look to the start of Passover on Monday evening,” Wray said as cited by CNN.
According to the FBI director, the FBI saw an unprecedented spike in violence and threats toward Jews since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Between October 7 and January 30, the FBI opened over three times more anti-Jewish hate crime investigations compared to the four months prior.
“The sheer number of probes launched in recent months are demonstrative of very real threats to your institutions, to your houses of worship, to your schools and university organizations, and to the individuals in your communities simply for being who you are,” he said.
In addition to lone acts of terrorism, Wray warned that foreign terrorist groups are encouraging attacks on Jewish communities in the US and Europe.
“After the last few days, in particular, the threat posed by Iran itself is very real,” Wray said. “We are urging all of our partners here and around the world to stay vigilant in light of potential threats that may emerge from Iran or its proxies both overseas and even here in the homeland.”
