On June 15, as part of the National Threat Advisory System (NTAS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new NTAS Bulletin regarding homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) and the June 12 attack in Orlando. In December 2015, DHS described a new phase in the global threat environment, which has implications on the homeland. This basic assessment has not changed.
According to DHS, the objective of an NTAS Bulletin is to provide information describing broader and more general trends and current developments regarding threats of terrorism. An NTAS Bulletin will contain a summary of the issue and why it is important for public awareness, outline U.S. government counterterrorism efforts and offer recommendations to the public on how it can contribute to the overall counterterrorism effort.
DHS released the June 15 NTAS Bulletin to follow up on its concerns regarding HVEs who could strike with little or no notice. The most recent attacks in Brussels and Orlando reinforce this. While DHS states it knows of no specific or credible intelligence at this time regarding a terrorist attack, terrorist-inspired individuals have conducted, or attempted to conduct, attacks in the U.S. In addition, DHS is especially concerned about HVEs who may target public events or places. Threats and violence may be directed to particular communities based on perceived religion, ethnicity, nationality and sexual orientation. DHS and the FBI continue to provide guidance and conduct investigations on potential terrorist activities.
DHS recommends reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement, Fusion Centers, and FBI field offices. DHS also provides resources on how to recognize signs of pre-operational planning associated with terrorism or other criminal activity.