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FBI
Testimony on
Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigation
Michael Steinbach
Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division
February 26, 2015
Good morning Chairman Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member Lee, and members of
the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today
to discuss the dynamic threat posed by foreign fighters traveling in
support of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the
continued threat to the United States posed by homegrown violent
extremists. These threats remain one of the biggest priorities for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Intelligence Community (IC),
and our foreign, state, and local partners. I am pleased to be here
today with strong state and local partners—Charlotte, North Carolina
Police Chief Rodney Monroe and Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sheriff Richard Stanek.
As you know, the conflict in Syria and Iraq is currently the most
attractive overseas theater for Western-based extremists who want to
engage in violence. We estimate upwards of 150 Americans have traveled
or attempted to travel to Syria to join extremist groups. While this
number is small in comparison to the number of European travelers, we
must also consider the influence groups like ISIL have on individuals
located in the United States who can be inspired to commit acts of
violence. It is this blending of homegrown violent extremism with the
foreign fighter ideology that is today’s latest adaptation of the
threat.
ISIL has proven to be relentless and continues to terrorize individuals
in Syria and Iraq, including Westerners. We are concerned about the
possibility of homegrown extremists becoming radicalized by information
available on the Internet. ISIL’s widespread reach through the Internet
and social media is most concerning as the group has proven dangerously
competent at employing such tools for its nefarious strategy. ISIL
utilizes high-quality, traditional media platforms, as well as
widespread social media campaigns to propagate its extremist ideas.
Recently released propaganda has included various English language
publications circulated via social media. Several videos of ISIL-held
hostages and videos glorifying ISIL members have also been released.
As a communications tool, the Internet remains a critical node for
terror groups to exploit. Recently, a group of five individuals was
arrested for knowingly and willingly conspiring and attempting to
provide material support and resources to designated foreign terrorist
organizations active in Syria and Iraq. Much of their conspiracy
occurred via the Internet. We remain concerned about recent calls to
action by ISIL and its supporters on violent extremist web forums that
could potentially motivate homegrown extremists to conduct attacks here
at home. Online supporters of ISIL have used various social media
platforms to call for retaliation against the U.S. In one case, an
Ohio-based man was arrested in January after he stated his intent to
conduct an attack on the U.S. Capitol building. The individual used a
Twitter account to post statements, videos, and other content
indicating support for ISIL.
Echoing other terrorist groups, ISIL has advocated for lone wolf
attacks. This past January, ISIL released a video via social media
networking sites reiterating the group’s support of lone offender
attacks in Western countries. This video specifically advocates for
attacks against soldiers, law enforcement, and intelligence members.
Several incidents have occurred in the United States and Europe over
the last few months that indicate this “call to arms” has resonated
among ISIL supporters and sympathizers.
Our partners in Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom (UK)
have recently disrupted plotting and, unfortunately, had security
officers attacked by individuals linked to ISIL or other forms of
violent extremism. A French national, who took hostages in Paris and
shot and killed a policewoman in early January, claimed he was an ISIL
supporter. In December 2014, another French national entered a police
station in France and began stabbing police officers before being
killed by police. Two separate attacks in Canada in October 2014
targeted Canadian soldiers. Additionally, in September and October, the
UK and Australian authorities separately thwarted attacks targeting
local law enforcement.
Soon after the January attacks in France, authorities in Belgium
conducted a raid against several individuals who were allegedly
planning an attack against police personnel. These individuals
purportedly had ties to ISIL and allegedly had some connections to the
individuals responsible for the attacks in Paris. Our European partners
remain on heightened alert and continue to take the necessary steps to
mitigate imminent threats. Additionally, last week an individual in
Copenhagen attacked a café and a synagogue before dying in a shootout
with law enforcement. The individual reportedly pledged allegiance to
ISIL before conducting the attack.
The recent events in Europe also underscore our need to remain vigilant
here at home, as these small scale attacks are feasible within the
United States. Individuals inspired by foreign terrorist groups could
quietly arm themselves with the expertise and tools to carry out an
attack. Community and world events may trigger one of these individuals
to take action. As we’ve seen with the highly publicized events of the
attack on the military at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Canada and
the hostage situation at a café in Australia, any attempt at an act of
terror will attract international media attention. We remain concerned
these types of events, which were widely broadcast, could inspire “copy
cat” attacks.
The idea of carrying out small-scale attacks is not new. In addition to
ISIL’s online propaganda encouraging attacks on Western interests in
any manner possible, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has also
promoted conducting attacks using simple and inexpensive methods. AQAP
continues to pose a threat to the United States and our interests
overseas. AQAP’s online English magazine Inspire advocates for lone
wolves to conduct attacks against the U.S. homeland and Western targets
and once again highlighted some ways to do so in the recent edition
released on December 24, 2014. As with the previous editions, the
magazine encourages homegrown violent extremists to carry out small
arms attacks and provides detailed “how to” instructions for
constructing and deploying a successful bomb.
In conjunction with our domestic and foreign partners, we are
rigorously collecting and analyzing intelligence information as it
pertains to the ongoing threat posed by ISIL, AQAP, and other foreign
terrorist organizations. Given the global impact of the Syria and Iraq
conflicts, regular engagement with our domestic and foreign partners
concerning foreign fighters is critical.
The FBI, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is
utilizing all investigative techniques and methods to combat the threat
these individuals may pose to the United States. We must maintain
robust information sharing and close collaboration with our state,
local, and federal partners. Individuals who are affiliated with a
foreign terrorist organization, inspired by a foreign terrorist
organization, or who are self-radicalized are living in their
communities. We at the FBI recognize it is our responsibility to share
information pertaining to ongoing or emerging threats immediately. Our
local and state partners rely on this intelligence to conduct their
investigations and maintain the safety of their communities. It is our
responsibility to provide them with the information and resources to
keep their communities out of harm’s way. In each of the FBI’s 56 field
offices, the Joint Terrorism Task Forces serve as a vital mechanism for
information sharing among our partners. Together with our local, state,
and federal partners, we are committed to combating the threat from
homegrown violent extremists and ensuring the safety of the American
public.
The FBI continues to pursue increased information sharing, efforts to
combat radicalization, and exchanges regarding community outreach
programs and policing strategies.
Chairman Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member Lee, and committee members, I
thank you for this opportunity to testify concerning the threat foreign
fighters and homegrown extremists pose to the homeland. I am happy to
answer any questions you might have.
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