FBI, DHS Warn of July 4 Terror Threats

Federal officials are warning of lone wolves who pose the biggest terror threat to Fourth of July celebrations amid tensions between the United States and the Middle East.

Tensions escalated on June 22, when the U.S. Military bombed three key nuclear sites in Iran, according to Trump administration officials.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the agency is "working closely with the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure a safe and secure Independence Day across the nation."

"We are enhancing security measures and coordinating intelligence-sharing to proactively address potential risks, including those from lone wolf actors. At this time, DHS is not aware of any specific, credible, threats to Fourth of July celebrations," DHS said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she has been "briefed consistently over the previous few weeks on the current threat landscape given heightened tensions around the world."

"Our federal partners reiterated yesterday that lone wolf actors remain the greatest potential threat including during the upcoming July 4th holiday. Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — especially as families gather to celebrate this holiday weekend," Hochul said.

The governor added that "New York's law enforcement personnel have already been in an increased alert posture following the recent conflict in the Middle East, but at my direction, State Police will have an increased presence at large events throughout the state," and the governor's office "will be closely coordinating with local and federal law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of all involved."

"National Guard personnel also remain deployed at major transportation hubs, as well as at key bridges and tunnels within New York City. We are also actively monitoring social media activity and continue to be on high alert for any cyberthreats," Hochul said. "New Yorkers should never be intimidated by threats of violence or terror. I urge everyone to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends and to stay alert. If you see something, say something."

Federal authorities are also concerned that San Francisco's fireworks show, which is expected to draw around 200,000 people, provides "a broad set of soft targets ... for a mass casualty attack," reads a "Joint Special Event Threat Assessment" bulletin obtained by ABC News from the FBI, Homeland Security, Coast Guard San Francisco and Northern California Regional Intelligence Center.

Officials expressed concerns of copycats following a New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native inspired by ISIS online, rammed his truck through Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, killing 14 civilians and injuring 57 others.

"Due to the Iran conflict, the Department of Homeland Security has a National Threat Advisory System, and as of June 22, we are at a heightened threat environment," Michael Verden, founder and CEO of security firm The Lake Forest Group, told Fox News Digital. "That level will stay in place until September 22, and it could be extended based on the conflict in Iran."

Verden, a former USSS agent and law enforcement officer, added that certain 4th of July activities and travel will see increased security and precautionary measures "because of this heightened threat environment."

DHS said in a June 22 bulletin that "Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020."

"The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland," DHS said. "Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks."

Verden recalled a mass shooting that took place on the Fourth of July in Highland Park, Illinois, in 2022 that left seven people killed, including an 8-year-old boy. While the shooter's motive has not been described as an act of terrorism, Verden said that shooting three years ago brought more attention to the possibility of bad actors targeting "open-air events."

In more urban settings, bad actors could also target subterranean spaces, such as subways or threats "from the water," he said.

Public and private events will need to coordinate with local law enforcement for the holiday, according to Verden.

Federal intelligence officials, meanwhile, will try to proactively identify and stop any emerging threats "associated with the homeland, and a 4th of July event is definitely associated with the homeland," Verden said.

The former USSS agent also said law enforcement will put a heavy emphasis on "access control," which includes everything from verifying credentials at admission for an event, checking bags, checking parked vehicles for explosives, looking out for suspicious activity and so on.

"If there was some type of suspicious activity, do you have tactical units to respond to … a group of people that seems suspicious, or other assets such as explosives? They call it explosives ordinance disposal, which is EOD. So, if someone found a backpack that was unattended, do you have canine assets, or do you have EOD teams to respond to that?" Verden explained.

Law enforcement will also be looking to cover high vantage points. Verden noted that the Highland Park shooter and the gunman who shot at then-candidate Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year were both positioned on rooftops.

Verden said Fourth of July event attendees should familiarize themselves with venue layouts, and read website descriptions of events before attending. Revelers should also have a plan in the event of an emergency situation, such as coming up with a meeting location, especially if cell services crashes and there is no way to get in contact with loved ones.

Law enforcement officials should take a "three-step approach" in the event of an emergency, according to Verden. First, assess the event space and come up with a security plan; have a pre-determined incident commander in the case of an emergency; and adequately train first-responders and other officials prior to an event.

"There's always a little bit of a heightened risk level when it comes to these patriotic [events]. … This is when the Declaration of Independence was ratified on this date. So, there's always that concern of our adversaries. This would be an opportune time for them to do some type of an attack," he said.

A recent assessment released last week by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) found that Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, followed by U.S. bunker-busting strikes, "effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program." But authors David Albright and Spencer Faragasso cautioned that "residuals such as stocks of 60%, 20%, and 3-5% enriched uranium and centrifuges manufactured but not yet installed ... pose a threat as they can be used in the future to produce weapon-grade uranium."

According to the ISIS report, "extensive damage" was confirmed at nearly all major Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, including the destruction of uranium metal conversion plants, fuel fabrication centers, and the IR-40 Arak heavy water reactor. The report noted that the Israeli and U.S. strikes "rendered the Fordow site inoperable," citing high-resolution satellite imagery of deep bunker penetrations.

The bunker strikes have prompted conversations about Iranian retaliation against the United States.