The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on Monday about foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) potentially targeting LGBTQ events during Pride Month.
The warning cited FTO efforts to "commit or inspire violence" and seek to "exploit increased gathering associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month." The announcement noted that June 12 will mark the eighth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub Orlando shooting in which 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded.
Although later indications were that the murderer, Omar Metten, was not aware it was a gay nightclub, ISIS nonetheless praised the attack saying, "Allah enabled him to inflict heavy casualties amongst the filthy Crusaders. He killed and injured over a hundred of them."
"It’s incredibly disheartening and troubling," openly gay New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher told PIX11. "We should take the warning from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security seriously and follow the advice that they issued, which is to be vigilant."
The FBI said some indicators for police and the public to watch for include violent threats made online or in person, someone taking photographs of security equipment or personnel, and requesting information on events and crowd sizes without explanation. They may also attempt to bypass security or impersonate law enforcement.
"Our community will not be intimidated, and I would ask folks to have a really wonderful pride," Bottcher said.