Potential terrorist attack in Alabama on July 4? FBI opens command centers to monitor plots

FBI Swat Team member (Photo: Brendan Smialowski)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The FBI has established “command centers” at its field offices in Birmingham and Mobile in response to the heightened terrorist threat level going into Independence Day weekend. The FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland security have also issued a joint intelligence bulletin urging law enforcement agencies around the country to be on alert.

A federal law enforcement official told Fox News there are currently no specific threats of attack, but added that ISIS or other terrorist groups could target the holiday weekend in an attempt to generate greater attention.

“Authorities are particularly concerned about soft targets like shopping malls and other areas where there are large gatherings of people and rather light security,” the source said.

The rapid-response command centers being established in Alabama are part of a national network of FBI field offices working together to monitor potential threats and thwart or respond to attacks, if necessary.

“These kind of warnings go out routinely,” explained former CIA deputy director Michael Morell, “but there’s nothing routine about this particular one to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re sitting here next week talking about an attack that took place over the weekend in the United States. That’s how serious this is.”

When asked if Morell’s assessment was hyperbolic, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Tx.) said, “I don’t think so. We’re in one of the highest threat environments that I’ve seen in quite some time.

“The chatter, the volume is very high,” he continued. “The recent arrests we’ve had… We’ve rolled up, it seems like every week, a new ISIS follower… The ISIS spokesman called for jihad during Ramadan. Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the caliphate. And we know they’re possibly targeting Fourth of July parades… All of these things converging together create a scenario that’s almost a perfect storm that greatly concerns me.”

McCaul said the command centers opening in Alabama and other areas of the country are the FBI’s response to the heightened threat level.

“We’ve had the joint terrorism task forces that normally deal with this issue. Command centers are sort of taking it up another step… because of the seriousness of the threat that they see.”

However, not everyone agrees the holiday weekend is cause for an increased level of concern. Terror expert Michael O’Hanlon told Yahoo News he believes officials are just being overly cautious.

“I would just remind people of the tendency of officials that, if there is any doubt or reason for concern, they tend to prefer to sound a little more worried,” he said. “It just makes you seem more prudent. It makes you seem smarter. You don’t have to worry that you forgot to tell people to keep up their guard. But it has the effect of sometimes overstating the threat.”

But Chairman McCaul’s specific mention of parades will likely remind many Alabamians about the story of Hoda Muthana, a 2013 graduate of Hoover High School and UAB student who abandoned her family to join ISIS in Syria. Muthana took to Twitter to urge muslims she left behind in Alabama to attack their “greatest enemy,” and specifically mentioned targeting parades.

“Americans wake up!” she tweeted on March 19. “Men and women altogether. You have much to do while you live under our greatest enemy, enough of your sleeping! Go on drive-bys and spill all of their blood, or rent a big truck and drive all over them. Veterans, Patriot, Memorial etc Day parades..go on drive by’s + spill all of their blood or rent a big truck n drive all over them. Kill them.”

In spite of the warnings in the intelligence bulletin sent out from the Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said there’s no reason for individuals to curtail their Independence Day celebrations.

“We continue to encourage all Americans to attend public events and celebrate this country during this summer season,” he said, “but always remain vigilant.”