FBI Director says bureau is working ‘around the clock’ against potential attacks inspired by Hamas

When asked about the current terror threat level in the US. FBI Director Christopher Wray says he seen blinking red lights everywhere. Senator Lindsey Graham asked Ray in *** senate hearing today on Capitol Hill, whether terror threats today are at *** level not seen since 911. So blinking red lights analogy, about 911, all the lights were blinking red before 911. Apparently, obviously all of us missed it. Would you say that there's multiple blinking red lights out there? I see blinking lights everywhere I turn. Ok. All right. Can't say any better than that Ray's remarks today are reinforcing the notion that the Israel Hamas war has exacerbated the threat to the homeland. The uh urging *** foreign terrorist organization to attack America has gone up. Is that fair to say yes, the threat level has gone to *** whole another level since October 7th. I've never seen *** time where all the threats or so many of the threats are all elevated all at exactly the same time. And at the center of the threat to America, Ray says, is Iran describing the country as the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism? When asked what the US should do differently to deter terror threats. Ray says deterrence requires for there to be consequences.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that the bureau is working "around the clock" to "identify and disrupt" potential attacks by individuals inspired by the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7."Given the steady drumbeat of calls for attacks by foreign terrorist organizations since October 7th, we're working around the clock to identify and disrupt potential attacks by those inspired by Hamas's horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," Wray said in his opening remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing Tuesday.There is currently no information to indicate that Hamas "has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the U.S.," Wray said in a written statement separate from his opening remarks, "though we cannot, and do not, discount that possibility."Wray said in that statement that the FBI is "especially concerned about the possibility of Hamas supporters engaging in violence on the group's behalf," and the threat from a "terrorist organization who may exploit the attacks in Israel as a tool to mobilize their followers around the world."Wray also warned in his opening remarks of the increase in hate crimes, including the "troubling trend" of increased antisemitic threats in the months since October 7. His comments echo previous warnings of threats to the United States. He made similar remarks to other congressional committees.Video below: Hear some of the FBI director's testimony to the Senate Judiciary CommitteeIn addition, Wray touted the work by the FBI, including that the FBI "disrupted over 40% more cyber operations and arrested over 60% more cyber criminals than the year before," and that "over the past two years, we've seized enough fentanyl to kill 270 million people—that's more than 80% of all Americans."The FBI director is pushing senators on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire at the end of this year. The law enables the U.S. government to obtain intelligence by targeting non-Americans overseas who are using U.S.-based communications services.Wray said, "702 is key to our ability to detect a foreign terrorist organization overseas directing an operative here to carry out an attack in our own backyard.""What are we going to say to the family whose loved one's care was sabotaged when a hospital was taken offline by a foreign adversary and the FBI wasn't able to stop the cyber attack," Wray said.Wray continued that allowing the law to lapse or amending it in any way that "undermines" its effectiveness "would be akin to laying bricks to rebuild another, pre-9/11-style wall . What could anyone possibly say to victims' families if there was another attack that we could have prevented if we hadn't given away the ability to effectively use a tool that courts have consistently deemed constitutional?"

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that the bureau is working "around the clock" to "identify and disrupt" potential attacks by individuals inspired by the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7.

"Given the steady drumbeat of calls for attacks by foreign terrorist organizations since October 7th, we're working around the clock to identify and disrupt potential attacks by those inspired by Hamas's horrific terrorist attacks in Israel," Wray said in his opening remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing Tuesday.

There is currently no information to indicate that Hamas "has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the U.S.," Wray said in a written statement separate from his opening remarks, "though we cannot, and do not, discount that possibility."

Wray said in that statement that the FBI is "especially concerned about the possibility of Hamas supporters engaging in violence on the group's behalf," and the threat from a "terrorist organization who may exploit the attacks in Israel as a tool to mobilize their followers around the world."

Wray also warned in his opening remarks of the increase in hate crimes, including the "troubling trend" of increased antisemitic threats in the months since October 7. His comments echo previous warnings of threats to the United States. He made similar remarks to other congressional committees.

Video below: Hear some of the FBI director's testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee

In addition, Wray touted the work by the FBI, including that the FBI "disrupted over 40% more cyber operations and arrested over 60% more cyber criminals than the year before," and that "over the past two years, we've seized enough fentanyl to kill 270 million people—that's more than 80% of all Americans."

The FBI director is pushing senators on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire at the end of this year. The law enables the U.S. government to obtain intelligence by targeting non-Americans overseas who are using U.S.-based communications services.

Wray said, "702 is key to our ability to detect a foreign terrorist organization overseas directing an operative here to carry out an attack in our own backyard."

"What are we going to say to the family whose loved one's care was sabotaged when a hospital was taken offline by a foreign adversary and the FBI wasn't able to stop the cyber attack," Wray said.

Wray continued that allowing the law to lapse or amending it in any way that "undermines" its effectiveness "would be akin to laying bricks to rebuild another, pre-9/11-style wall [in intelligence gathering]. What could anyone possibly say to victims' families if there was another attack that we could have prevented if we hadn't given away the ability to effectively use a tool that courts have consistently deemed constitutional?"

FBI Director says bureau is working ‘around the clock’ against potential attacks inspired by Hamas

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