World News Israel & Middle East Canada
Remain vigilant as calls for global ‘Day of Jihad’ circulate online: FBI
Officials are urging Jewish institutions to be alert after a former head of Hamas called for a ‘Day of Jihad’ on Friday, Oct. 13
Author of the article:Faygie Holt, Jewish Syndicate News, National Post Wire Services
Published Oct 13, 2023 • Last Updated 4 hours ago • 3 minute read
This aerial picture shows abandoned and torched vehicles at the site of the Oct. 7 attack on the Supernova desert music Festival by Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on Oct. 13, 2023. PHOTO BY JACK GUEZ /AFP via Getty Images
National security officials are urging Jewish institutions to keep their facilities open but to be vigilant after a former head of Hamas called for a “Day of Jihad” on Friday, Oct. 13. Much of the concern stems from online posts in which former Hamas leader Khalid Mashal called the “Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood.”
FBI director Christopher Wray told Jewish communal leaders that his agency is aware of the call for global “mobilization” and that “we are working to confirm if there is any validity to the call.”
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“I am not, in any way, trying to alarm you, but I want you to be confident that the FBI is most assuredly paying attention,” he continued. “We remain vigilant to the potential of this event to inspire violence” against Jewish people, houses of worship, day schools and Jewish community centers in the United States.
RELATED STORIES
Why did Hamas attack now? What we know about its motives and strategy
Terrorist sympathizers on Parliament Hill – Canada’s Palestinian extremism problem
Wray made his remarks on Thursday as part of a “National Update on Domestic Security Guidance Amidst Hamas Terror Attacks,” sponsored by the Secure Community Network. More than 4,700 people took part in the briefing, during which Wray said that just last weekend, the FBI received a tip about a potential threat to several institutions in Connecticut, including a “Jewish senior services center,” and immediately worked with local partners to eliminate that threat.
He also noted that the 2022 hate-crime numbers expected to be released next week will continue to show an “upward trend” of threats and violence against the Jewish community in the United States.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
“Amidst the unspeakable devastation in Israel, the North American Jewish community must do all we can to ensure our institutions are safe and secure. As of this moment, SCN has not seen any direct, credible threats as it relates to Hamas’s call to action or the broader situation in Israel,” said Michael Master, national director and CEO of SCN. “Absent information otherwise provided by law enforcement and public safety partners, we are encouraging organizations to remain open and active.”
According to Kerry Sleeper, senior adviser for the SCN, potential threats can come from different directions, such as nonviolent protests or demonstrations that turn violent, which may be centered on college campuses; neo-Nazis and hate groups who are using the current atmos; and “lone-wolf” violent extremists who are inspired by Hamas to act.
Some of that inspiration may come from social media, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter), which Sleeper said “is currently an epicenter for content praising attacks by Hamas, Al-Kassem Brigades, a Hamas offshoot, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.”
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“As of last evening, there were 16 million content views of Hamas-related propaganda content,” which includes go-pro videos of Hamas terrorists killing and desecrating the bodies of Israeli servicemen and the murder of civilians. “This is the message of if you can’t travel for jihad, commit jihad where you are,” said Sleeper, calling the videos a recruiting tool for Hamas.
Against this backdrop, law-enforcement agencies in Jewish areas are increasing their public presence on Friday, particularly in major urban centers that saw an uptick in anti-Jewish activity associated with the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in May 2021.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.
VIEW ON NATIONAL POST
READ NEXT
ISRAEL & MIDDLE EAST
Israeli-Canadian reservists say they’re ready to fight if needed
By Jacob Serebrin, The Canadian Press
40 minutes ago
NEWS
Survivors of the Israel music festival describe the horrifying day
By Yehezkel Laing, Jewish News Syndicate , National Post Wire Services
46 minutes ago
WORLD
Fears grow over whether Hezbollah will join Israel-Hamas war
By Kareem Chehayeb And Abby Sewell, The Associated Press
1 hour ago
NEWS
Centuries-old coins that could be connected to Glencoe massacre found under fireplace
By Sam Riches
1 hour ago
WORLD
Man pleads guilty to stealing ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in ‘The Wizard of Oz’
By Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press
1 hour ago
THIS WEEK IN FLYERS
© 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. 365 Bloor St East, Toronto, ON, M4W3L4, www.postmedia.com
Privacy
Terms
Copyright
Site Map
Contact Us
Digital Ad Registry