The FBI and Homeland Security issued a warning on Wednesday morning about large Fourth of July celebrations.
The security organizations say the biggest threats are lone offenders and small groups, who may have a larger agenda, and find large events such as holiday gatherings “attractive” targets, according to a bulletin obtained by ABC News.
“The political environment of the country certainly doesn’t help,” Aaron Katersky, a security correspondent, told ABC News. “The police are being told by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to be on watch for these types of things that are notoriously difficult to guard against.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, mass shootings on the Fourth of July have steadily increased over the past three years.
The organization tallied a total 80 mass shootings that occurred over the past three years between July 1-7, according to Mark Bryant, the executive director of the nonprofit that tracks US shootings.
The group defines a “mass shooting” as a shooting that kills or injures four or more people, not including the shooter. Last year, in 2023, there were 28 mass shootings over the July 4th week, followed by 27 in 2022 and 25 in 2021.
