Twenty 5 years after al-Qaeda struck inside the U.S. homeland in stunning and tragic methods, federal authorities are warning that the risk from international terrorist organizations has hardly gone away, and in some methods is tougher to cease now than it was 20 years in the past.
“We see folks getting radicalized from the comforts of their very own house, via social media, the web,” the FBI’s co-deputy director, Chris Raia, informed ABC Information. “These are the parents that hold me up at night time as a result of it is simply a lot more durable for us to detect these.”
In response to Raia, the FBI is healthier positioned now to cease a large-scale, refined plot like al-Qaeda’s attack in 2001, which killed practically 3,000 folks.
“Approach higher postured now in 2026, primarily based on laws, primarily based on how far we have come within the [FBI] bureau, primarily based on how far we have come within the U.S. intelligence neighborhood,” Raia mentioned.
However he mentioned international terrorist organizations have proven themselves to be “adaptable” and “agile,” so al-Qaeda and different main terrorist teams like ISIS at the moment are relentlessly in search of to develop what Raia referred to as “lone offenders” inside the USA.
Previously yr and a half, the FBI has arrested no less than 16 folks contained in the U.S. homeland for allegedly plotting or supporting plots to kill Individuals on behalf of al-Qaeda or ISIS, officers say.
In March, the U.S. intelligence neighborhood launched a report on the state of worldwide threats and famous that, whereas ISIS and al-Qaeda could also be largely counting on social media to succeed in America, their numbers are literally rising abroad, with ISIS now boasting as much as 18,000 members worldwide and al-Qaeda’s ranks reaching as much as 28,000 members.
An FBI agent is amongst these looking the rubble within the stays of the World Commerce Heart, Sept. 17, 2001 in New York, practically every week after the terrorist assault on the World Commerce Heart.
Doug Kanter/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Raia mentioned that 25 years later, 9/11 continues to be a motivating issue for folks radicalized on-line.
“That’s their Tremendous Bowl,” Raia mentioned. “Each time you begin digging into their media, digging into their communications, there’s at all times, at all times references to 9/11.”
Simply three weeks in the past, the FBI arrested 35-year-old Jessica Bowie of Albany, New York, for allegedly plotting to bomb the state capitol there. Charging paperwork mentioned that within the weeks earlier than her arrest, she wrote on social media: “Reward be to Allah for September eleventh.”
At a press convention after her arrest, the pinnacle of the FBI’s area workplace in Albany, Craig Tremaroli, famous that Bowie allegedly “went from just a little woman waving the American flag after 9/11 to now having stickers of the fallen towers.”
“Let that sink in,” he mentioned.
Bowie has not but entered a plea in her case.
In his interview with ABC Information, Raia rejected criticism that the FBI has been distracted by immigration enforcement and different priorities of the Trump administration.
“Our footprint when it comes to the immigration coverage or immigration is very minimal,” he mentioned.
Raia mentioned that whereas the FBI at all times desires extra assets, he can guarantee Individuals that combating terrorism is among the many FBI’s high priorities and that the FBI has the assets they want to try this.
Raia mentioned it is an ongoing chess match with the FBI making an attempt to foretell what terrorists might give you subsequent.
“Drones has actually been forefront of my priorities,” he mentioned. “You’ll be foolish to suppose that that is not coming to the USA sooner or later, and we are attempting to remain forward of that.”
Nonetheless, Raia mentioned that to really shield the U.S. homeland, the FBI wants assist from the general public.
“See one thing, say one thing,” he mentioned. “That marketing campaign that began 20-something years in the past, that’s simply as vital right this moment in 2026, if no more vital than it was in 2001.”
ABC Information’ Mike Levine and Luke Barr contributed to this report.
