FBI asks police departments to prepare for Islamist attacks inspired by Hamas

The FBI is on alert for possible terrorist attacks on American soil motivated by the growing tension in the Middle East and support for the terrorist group Hamas in various demonstrations throughout the country. The director of the federal agency, Christopher Wray, claimed that there could be future attacks inspired by the recent events in Israel.

Wray's warning comes after Hamas leaders called for a global uprising by Muslims around the world. "In this heightened environment, there’s no question we’re seeing an increase in reported threats, and we’ve got to be on the lookout, especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own," said Wray at a police conference in San Diego, California.

The director of the agency called for increased surveillance, a recommendation that he addressed to an auditorium full of officials from police departments from around the country. "You’re often the first to see the signs that someone may be mobilizing to violence," he said, referring to surveillance of individuals and organizations that may become radicalized and obey Hamas' call for jihad.

In the United States, Hamas has been classified as a terrorist organization since 1997. After the armed group launched an attack against rural towns in southern Israel, the Muslim world and other progressive related groups took to the streets to defend Palestine. Since then, some violent attacks have already been reported outside Israel. In France, a young Muslim man of Chechen origin murdered a high school teacher in Arras.