The US military has increased the security level at US military bases due to unspecific warnings involving the radical Islamic State terrorist group. The alert level is now at its highest since the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
The order to boost the security level on US military bases to
“Bravo” – the third of five levels of alert - was ordered by
Admiral William Gortney, head of the US Northern Command
(NORTHCOM), which commands all military installations on American
territory.
The move comes just hours after FBI Director James Comey spoke
out on the increasing threat of jihadist attacks being carried
out on US soil.
Comey said Thursday there are "hundreds, maybe thousands" of
individuals in the United States who are being inspired via
social media platforms to carry out acts of violence on American
targets.
"It's like the devil sitting on their shoulders, saying
'Kill, kill, kill,''' Comey told reporters Thursday.
"We have a general concern, obviously, that ISIL is focusing
on the uniformed military and law enforcement."
The Pentagon has come around to the view that IS sympathizers
residing in the United States present enough of a risk to warrant
boosting the security level.
A statement released by the Department of Defense said they share the “same concern about the potential threat posed by homegrown violent extremists, as discussed publicly by Director Comey and others."
US military brass said the change is “not tied to a specific, credible threat,” though “recent events have led us to recognize the need to take prudent steps.”
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Although Davis refrained from outlining exactly what new security
measures would be enforced, he said US military bases and
recruitment centers “are going to have increased vigilance
and force protection.”
He added: “We seek to be unpredictable."
A Pentagon statement described the heightened security level as a
means of protecting US military personnel.
“The USNORTHCOM Commander raised the baseline Force
Protection Condition as a prudent measure to remind installation
commanders at all levels within the USNORTHCOM area of
responsibility to ensure increased vigilance and safeguarding of
all DOD personnel, installations and facilities,” the
statement said. “This change, in addition to random drills or
exercises, is a mean to ensure that we effectively execute our
force protection mission."
In March, a group calling itself the Islamic State Hacking
Division allegedly posted the names, photos, and home addresses
of 100 US military personnel, urging IS followers to kill them.
The US military members' personal data was apparently not
obtained through hacks on government servers, despite claims by
the Islamic State, a Defense Department official told the New
York Times, because personal information allegedly collected by
ISIS "could be found in public records, residential address
search sites and social media."
Nevertheless, it looks like the US military is taking the threats
seriously.