ISIS Threat Includes Michigan, May Be 'Psychological Warfare'

ISIS claimed in an online message that it has soldiers trained and ready to respond in 15 states, including Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois and California. (Photo via Flickr / Creative Commons)

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The FBI says it is taking seriously an unverified threat by ISIS that it has soldiers trained in Michigan and more than a dozen other states.

The threat comes days after ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack at an event in Texas featuring caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

According to the online message, signed by “Abu Ibrahim Al Ameriki,” the incident was “only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah (authority or governance) in the heart of our enemy.”

It went on to claim ISIS has 71 trained soldiers in 15 states who are “ready at our word to attack any target we desire.”

The group named five states – Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois and California.

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• Does this threat, which the FBI says remains unverified, change how you go about your life?

In response, the FBI issued a statement declining to comment on the claims made in the post or any specific threat, according to WDIV-TV.

“The FBI is aware of the threat and has been investigating ISIS and other extremist groups who are attempting to radicalize people via the Internet for some time,” according to the statement.

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Michigan chapter, told The Detroit News the message was “disturbing to hear.” The message seemed “designed to cause fear,” he told the newspaper. “It’s psychological warfare.”

Even so, he planned to contact local Muslim leaders about security suggestions.

Though the FBI is taking the threat seriously, intelligence suggests the terrorist group thrives on fear, Andy Arena, the former special agent in charge of the FBI operations in Detroit, told WJBK-TV.

“I think this is part of ISIS’ plan to put that out and really scare people,” said Arena, who was in charge of counter-terrorism after 9/11. “From that standpoint, they succeed, they win.”

He said it’s unclear if ISIS has truly trained soldiers to attack in the United States, or if there are people who have been radicalized at a computer screen.

“There are people who went over and who have attempted to go over and fight and train,” Arena told WJBK. “I think the federal government is tracking those people. They’ve actually arrested several attempting to leave the country. They are going to get charged for material support. The trickier part is the people sitting on the internet.”

Even so, he told The Detroit News, now is no time for law enforcement or citizens to let thier guard down.

“I still think we have to take this seriously and be concerned as we have been and should have been for the last 14 years,” Arena said. “And the interesting thing is they are very adept at using social media and the Internet.”

Retired FBI assistant director Daniel Roberts echoed Arena’s comments in an interview with WWTV. He said the threat that includes Michigan is vague, but not unusual after an attack like the one that took place in Texas.

“For there to be another threat to pop up anytime, it’s not unusual,” Roberts told the Cadillac TV station. “Those threats get the top attention. That’s where all of their primary resources are focused on stopping another terrorist attack and so whatever resources they need, whatever law enforcement resources they need beyond just their FBI personnel, they will seek out and they do a good job.”

The FBI planned to brief law enforcement officials Friday, and Michigan State Police, the Michigan National Guard and FBI were urging residents of the state to report any suspicious behavior.