The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a federal bulletin warning that foreign terrorist organizations continue to encourage attacks in the country ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The bulletin expresses concern that terrorism actors in the US may be inspired to conduct violence or engage in hoax threats, and notes that individuals and small cells now plot attacks independently. According to the bulletin, ISIS has up to 18,000 members worldwide and al-Qaeda has up to 28,000 members, with both groups using social media to reach America. The bulletin also warns of terrorists experimenting with artificial intelligence to create violent online propaganda and explore ways to use explosives and biological agents to conduct attacks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On October 8, 2024, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed, an event that has become a significant marker for young conservatives in America, akin to September 11, 2001 and the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The day of his death is now referred to by some as 9/10, symbolizing its impact on political activism among students. Meanwhile, the small Canadian town of Gander played a pivotal role during the September 11 attacks when U.S. airspace was closed, leading to 38 international flights landing there, doubling the population overnight and necessitating an impromptu humanitarian effort by locals to aid around 7,000 stranded passengers and crew members for several days. This act of kindness inspired the Broadway musical "Come From Away," which highlights Gander's generosity and humanity in times of crisis.
Written for “9/11 Anniversary Reflections” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 167 other(s) covering the same event.
Federal bulletin issued ahead of 9/11 anniversary warns foreign terrorist groups continue to encourage attacks
The bulletin says terrorist organizations continue to encourage attacks.
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organizations → issue → attacks
Federal authorities are warning that foreign terrorist organizations "continue to encourage attacks in the United States and have released 9/11-related propaganda in advance of previous anniversaries of the 9/11 attacks," according to a bulletin reviewed by ABC News.
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organizations → warn → News
According to the bulletin, the FBI is concerned that terrorism actors in the U.S. may be inspired to conduct violence or engage in hoax threats in response to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and those actors have showed willingness to act with little to no warning.
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actors → accord → warning
Messaging by foreign terrorist organizations "in combination with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East could heighten existing grievances against the United States and contribute to mobilization to violence," according to the document.
Earlier Thursday, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the U.S. is facing "a heightened and increasingly complex terrorism threat environment," adding that the environment has "changed significantly since the attacks of September 11, 2001."
"Before 9/11, the primary concern came from centralized international terrorist organizations.
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concern → message → organizations
, those groups remain a threat, but the landscape is broader and more dispersed," according to a DHS spokesperson.
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landscape → remain → spokesperson
"Individuals and small cells now plot attacks independently, often motivated by a range of ideological and political goals.
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Individuals → plot → goals
Foreign terrorist organizations, such as ISIS and al-Qaeda continue to seek ways to carry out or inspire attacks in the U.S., the spokesperson said.
"At the same time, domestic terrorists continue to plan acts of violence, often driven by anti-government views and a desire to destabilize society," the spokesperson added.
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spokesperson → continue → society
In the past year and a half, the FBI has arrested at least 16 people inside the U.S. homeland for allegedly plotting or supporting plots to kill Americans on behalf of al-Qaeda or ISIS, officials say.
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officials → arrest → Qaeda
In March, the U.S. intelligence community released a report on the state of worldwide threats and noted that, while ISIS and al-Qaeda may be largely relying on social media to reach America, their numbers are actually growing overseas, with ISIS now boasting up to 18,000 members worldwide and al-Qaeda's ranks reaching up to 28,000 members.
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ranks → release → members
The Department of Homeland Security was born out of the 9/11 attacks with the goal of putting agencies who protect the homeland under one roof.
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who → bear → roof
In addition to the changed threat environment, the DHS spokesperson also warned of terrorists experimenting with artificial intelligence.
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terrorists → change → intelligence
"Terrorists are increasingly experimenting with generative AI, not only to create and circulate violent online propaganda, but to explore ways to use explosives and biological agents to conduct attacks," according to the spokesperson.
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Terrorists → experiment → spokesperson
AI advancements "could make terrorist activity faster, more scalable, and harder to detect," according to the spokesperson.
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activity → make → spokesperson
"While the United States has not experienced a large-scale terrorist attack involving drones, the Department takes seriously the possibility that a drone could be used near critical infrastructure or to disrupt emergency response operations," according to the spokesperson.
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drone → experience → spokesperson
In an interview with ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas last week, FBI Deputy Director Christopher Raia said drones are at the "forefront" of his priorities.
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drones → say → priorities
"You would be silly to think that that's not coming to the United States at some point, and we are trying to stay ahead of that."
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we → think → that
