Threat level for U.S. houses of worship raised to ‘SEVERE’

The level of physical threats posed to houses of worship was elevated to “SEVERE” by the information sharing and analysis organization focused on attacks directed at faith-centered organizations.

Physical threats to churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith-based institutions are “driven by credible indicators of hostile intent toward houses of worship, recent domestic attacks, and escalation linked to global conflicts involving Iran, Israel, and South Asia,” the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO) said in its Thursday alert.

The “SEVERE” threat designation is a general assessment for all houses of worship in the United States, although “individual houses of worship, given their faith, geographic location, socio-political/ethnic demographics, and degree of local tensions may not consider their threat as severe and should adjust their posture accordingly,” the alert noted.

The cyber threat was designated “ELEVATED” by FB-ISAO, which said that “while no specific campaign against faith institutions is confirmed, symbolic and opportunistic targeting remains a concern” given increased activity by hacking groups.

“The threat environment is shaped by a convergence of global conflict, domestic polarization, and violent extremist rhetoric, increasing the likelihood of low‑warning, lone‑actor, or copycat incidents,” the analysis continued. “FB‑ISAO strongly recommends sustained heightened vigilance and security measures, including coordination with law enforcement, updated emergency planning, access control, and proactive reporting of suspicious activity.”

FB-ISAO predicted that the “SEVERE” threat level will remain “for the foreseeable future” given the current domestic and geopolitical climate.

“These assessments are supported by recent examples and documented threat reporting showing both direct risks to houses of worship and broader hostility toward religious communities, with confidence that continued physical events and incidents targeting houses of worship are highly likely,” the alert added.

The threat elevation was announced shortly after the FBI said the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Mich., was inspired by Hezbollah. Ayman Ghazali rammed his truck into the building and fatally shot himself after he was confronted by armed security. No people at the synagogue were killed.

In January, Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Miss., was significantly damaged in an arson attack. Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison County, Miss., was charged with civil rights and arson offenses; the FBI alleges that Pittman confessed to setting the blaze because of its “Jewish ties” and referred to it as the “synagogue of Satan.” Pittman “laughed as he told his father what he did and said he finally got them,” the criminal complaint said.

“Other attacks and potential attacks targeting synagogues have explicitly been linked to the war and threats to the Jewish community as a whole have increased dramatically since the start of the war,” FB-ISAO said, stressing that “all member and partner organizations are advised to sustain enhanced security awareness and readiness measures, ensure incident response plans are current, and maintain close coordination with relevant law enforcement and information-sharing partners.”

Among the security protocols advised for houses of worship are conducting a thorough security assessment, building and practicing an emergency plan, training greeters and users to spot and report suspicious behavior, and limiting unlocked doors.

FB-ISAO’s Cyber Threat Intelligence and Operational Resilience working groups actively monitor reports and continually observe a broad array of threat and hostility indicators to people and places of faith, the organization noted.

FB-ISAO offers a library of resources for faith-based organizations on securing facilities and people, securing school facilities and students, protecting digital assets, protecting from health threats and natural hazards, and preparedness activities.