(Los Angeles Times) Brian Bennett - Alarmed about the growing threat from Islamic State, the Obama administration has dramatically stepped up warnings of potential terrorist attacks on American soil. U.S. authorities also have raised defenses at U.S. military bases, put local police forces on alert and increased surveillance at the nation's airports, railroads, shopping malls, energy plants and other potential targets. U.S. officials estimate the Sunni Muslim group has drawn 22,000 foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq, including about 3,700 from Western nations. About 180 Americans have gone, or tried to go. James B. Comey, the FBI director, warned this month that "hundreds, maybe thousands" of Americans are seeing recruitment pitches from Islamic State on social media. "It's like the devil sitting on their shoulders saying, 'Kill, kill, kill,'" Comey said.
2015-05-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive