In a joint public service announcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have cautioned that foreign terrorist organizations may target “LGBTQIA+-related events and venues” during Pride Month in June.
“Organizations like ISIS may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month,” the agencies said.
The threat is intensified by the existing heightened threat environment resulting from the war in Gaza, the FBI and DHS believe. They note the Islamic State “called for followers to conduct attacks on unidentified soft targets” last February, although not “LGBTQIA+ venues” specifically. They also note that June 12 will be the eighth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub Orlando shooting in Florida, which saw 49 people at a gay nightclub killed by a jihadist of Afghan heritage.
In April, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that the U.S. faces an “elevated” risk of a jihadist attack similar to the one at the Crocus City Hall concert near Moscow, Russia, which saw 145 people killed by Tajik migrants.
“Our most immediate concern has been that individuals or small groups will draw twisted inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home. But now increasingly concerning is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia Concert Hall,” Wray told Congress.
The Russians responded to the Crocus Hall attack, which they have linked to the Ukrainian government, by organizing mass deportations.
