DHS warns terrorists may attack as coronavirus restrictions ease

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning that terrorists may attack as coronavirus restrictions ease in the U.S. 

DHS in a press release on Friday advised that the country is facing threats from domestic terrorists, individuals and groups that are influenced by foreign terrorist organizations. 

The department cited social media platforms and online forums used by perpetrators to spread their violent rhetoric.

“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago. We know that providing timely and useful information to the public is critical as we all work together to secure the homeland.  With the issuance of today’s NTAS Bulletin, we are advising the public to be vigilant about ongoing threats to the United States, including those posed by domestic terrorism, grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement. 

“In this evolving threat environment, DHS is redoubling our efforts to detect and disrupt all forms of foreign and domestic terrorism and targeted violence, while safeguarding privacy protections, civil rights, and civil liberties,” the department added.  

The warning came shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume life without any restrictions. 

The CDC said that if you are fully vaccinated — two weeks past the last required COVID-19 vaccine dose — you don’t need to wear masks indoors or outside, and you don’t need to maintain physical distance.