US urges precautions for faith communities amid antisemitism, Islamophobia

By Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government issued security guidance for faith-based communities on Wednesday as the country faces a terrorism threat level so elevated it prompted the FBI director to say he sees "blinking lights everywhere."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommendations are designed to protect against threats amid heightened antisemitism and Islamophobia since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli military retaliation in Gaza.

The move comes as the U.S. is recording soaring levels of antisemitism and Islamophobia since the Israel-Hamas war began, with the Justice Department saying it was monitoring rising threats against Jews and Muslims.

The DHS guidelines describe practical steps faith-based groups can take to be alert to the threat environment and to respond with cost-effective protective measures.

Recommendations include developing a security plan, putting an individual or a committee in charge of security, completing risk assessment, coordinating with local community and identifying available resources.

FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate committee on Tuesday: "I've never seen a time where all the threats are so many different threats are all elevated, all at exactly the same time. That's what makes this environment that we're in now so fraught."

Asked if he saw blinking red warning lights, Wray responded, "I see blinking lights everywhere I turn."

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas agreed with Wray on the threat level.

"We have seen episodes of violence in this country that speak tragically to that reality," Mayorkas said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday. "We are also doing something about it."

DHS was working with the FBI and others to share information with the private sector and general public, including steps they can take to mitigate threats, he said.

Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland were scheduled to speak to faith leaders later on Wednesday to discuss ways to identify and prevent hate crimes and security threats.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Josie Kao)