As the holiday season rolls in and Israel-Hamas tensions boil over in the Middle East, it's time for folks back home to stay sharp. The State Police have issued a public reminder that vigilance is crucial with increased calls for violence this winter holiday season, as reported by Illinois State Police.
According to the ISP, religious festivities—be it Jewish, Muslim, or Christian—are potential hotspots for attacks. Considering the increasingly aggressive stances from foreign terrorist outlets, this year the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are bracing for heightened aggression. Historically, foreign terror entities have pushed for attacks during this time, but the current climate suggests an even greater threat. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly underscored the potential for terrorism and hate crimes in a statement: “We all must remain on guard against both terrorism and hate crimes during this holiday season,” Kelly said. “While the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center reviews intelligence for potential threats around the clock, having reliable and timely information from the public is critical to keeping people safe.”
The looming threat, per the ISP and federal agencies, may come from lone wolves inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, utilizing rudimentary yet unpredictable tactics. The STIC keeps its eyes peeled for any threat, and works closely with the FBI Springfield and FBI Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces to maintain a steady stream of intel, while Kelly also reminded citizens to report anything off-kilter: “If you see something that seems out of place or someone acting in a manner that doesn’t seem right, report it to your local law enforcement.”
ISP is doing its part by forging deeper connections with religious communities and urging leaders to stay in contact and keep their flock informed, as well as dispatching critical information to its local and federal partners ISP remains on high alert, ready to respond to any incident. The overarching message to the public this holiday season—to be aware and ready—is detailed with additional resources on personal and family preparedness at the Ready Illinois website (https://ready.illinois.gov/).
