TerrorismOctober 2016 terrorism: The numbers

Published 16 November 2016

The House Homeland Security Committee has released its November 2016 Terror Threat Snapshot, which details terrorism events and trends in October 2016. Among the key points:  ISIS’ message continues to resonate with American citizens as more extremists plot attacks on American soil and attempt to travel overseas to join the terror group; the threat of the “terrorist diaspora” to the West will continue to grow, particularly as fighters flee from recent offensives in Mosul and Raqqa; Iran continues to take aggressive steps to threaten U.S. interests at home and abroad, particularly in the Gulf.

The House Homeland Security Committee has released its November 2016 Terror Threat Snapshot, which details terrorism events and trends in October 2016. The snapshot is a monthly committee assessment of the threat America, the West, and the world face from ISIS and other Islamist terrorists. The document is produced by the Majority Staff of the committee. It is based on information culled from open source materials, including media reports, publicly available government statements, and nongovernmental assessments.

Key points

  • ISIS’ message continues to resonate with American citizens as more extremists plot attackson American soil and attempt to travel overseas to join the terrorgroup.
  • ISIS has targeted the West at an alarming rate, marked by a recent surge in ISIS-linked plots to attack U.S. and allied interestsabroad.
  • ISIS and al Qaeda continue to take advantage of safe havens to consolidate their power and territory, as well as planattacks.
  • The threat of the “terrorist diaspora” to the West will continue to grow, particularly as fighters flee from recent offensives in Mosul andRaqqa.
  • Iran continues to take aggressive steps to threaten U.S. interests at home and abroad, particularly in theGulf.
  • Guantanamo Bay detainees are continuing to return to the fight to replenish the ranks of jihadistorganizations.

Homegrown Islamist extremism

  • FBI Director James Comey stated in September 2016 that the Bureau has about 1,000 active homegrown terror investigations. He estimated in May 2016 that around 80 percent of active homegrown terror investigations are related toISIS.
  • Since September 11, 2001, there have been at least 223 homegrown jihadist plots in the United States, including attempts to join terrorist groups overseas and execute attacks at home. Morethan 90 percent of these cases have occurred or been uncovered since2009 (this figure is based on open-source data compiled by the Congressional Research Service and the Majority Staff of the Homeland Security Committee).
  • Authorities have arrested 114 individuals in the U.S. and charged 4 others in absentia in ISIS-linked cases since 2014 (this figure is based on open-source data compiled and analyzed by the Majority Staff of the Homeland Security Committee).These individuals had, among other acts: plotted attacks; attempted to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria (or facilitated others’ travel); provided money, equipment, and weapons to ISIS; and falsified statements to federal authorities. Eight ISIS-linked terrorists have been killed whilecarrying out five separate attacks in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, and Minnesota