US prepares for potential threats related to anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel

Law enforcement agencies across the country have ramped up patrols around Jewish and Muslim sites.

The New York Police Department will increase its patrols on Monday, according to a source within law enforcement who spoke to CNN. This heightened security is expected to last for the next two weeks. The NYPD will also collaborate with state police on bomb detection missions at bridges and tunnels, with helicopter units being deployed to detect radiation, the source added.

In their joint statement on Friday, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security noted that Jewish, Muslim, or Arab institutions - including synagogues, mosques/Islamic centers, and community centers - as well as large public gatherings, are attractive targets for violent attacks or false threats from various actors, including extremists and individuals committing hate crimes.

"Be aware of your surroundings at all times and report suspicious activities to the authorities," the statement advised.

Agencies have assessed that foreign terrorist organizations are likely to continue exploiting narratives surrounding the conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran to incite lone-wolf terrorists to commit acts of violence in the US.

These so-called lone wolves, who are not formally affiliated with terrorist groups, pose a particularly serious challenge for law enforcement, sources within the security services previously told the network.

Monday, October 7, marks exactly one year since Hamas's incursion into Israel. In anticipation of the anniversary, Israeli military forces are expanding their operations and preparing a response to Iran following a large-scale missile attack last week.