The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint assessment warning that lone actors and small ideologically motivated groups are the primary terrorism threat to New Year’s Eve gatherings such as Times Square. Officials say there is no specific, credible plot at this time, but the overall threat matrix is elevated. The report highlights risks from targeted shootings, cyberattacks and vehicle-ramming incidents, citing the New Orleans ramming on January 1, 2025 that killed 14. New Orleans plans to activate its Emergency Operations Center from New Year’s Eve through the Sugar Bowl.
FBI and DHS Warn Lone Actors, Small Ideological Groups Pose Top Threat to New Year Celebrations
Law enforcement works the scene on Bourbon Street in New Orleans after a vehicle ramming attack on January 1, 2025. - Michael DeMocker/Getty Images
A joint assessment from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warns that lone actors and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs present the most significant terrorism threat to New Year’s Eve gatherings, including large events like the Times Square celebration.
The report, obtained by CNN as part of routine pre-holiday security planning, says authorities have identified risks from individuals and small cells driven by racial, ethnic, political, religious, anti-government, anti-immigration or other ideological grievances. While officials emphasize there is no specific, credible threat at this time, the overall threat matrix remains elevated as the holiday approaches.
New York City police officers stand watch in Times Square ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration on December 31, 2024. - Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Key Risks Highlighted
The assessment identifies several persistent and evolving risks:
- Targeted violent attacks, including shootings aimed at public gatherings.
- Vehicle-ramming attacks, which the report cites as especially concerning following the New Orleans incident on January 1, 2025, that killed 14 people.
- Cyber threats to event operations and critical infrastructure that could disrupt public safety or communications.
“If you look at the number of terrorist-related events and targeted violent attacks this year alone, and the increase in propaganda from violent extremist groups, there is a lot of concern about the atmosphere heading into the new year,” said CNN Chief Law Enforcement Analyst John Miller.
The report warns that vehicle-ramming remains attractive to aspiring attackers because vehicles are widely accessible and the attacks require a relatively low level of technical skill, increasing the risk of copycat incidents. It also notes threats from both foreign and domestic actors and highlights the need for vigilance around major public events.
Police cordon off the intersection of Canal Street and Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. - Matthew Hinton/AFP/Getty Images
Local Response
In response to the heightened assessment, the City of New Orleans announced it will activate its Emergency Operations Center beginning on New Year’s Eve and continuing through the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day to monitor activity and coordinate resources.
The assessment is intended to help municipal and federal partners plan security measures and public-safety messaging, not to signal an immediate, specific plot. Officials urge the public to remain alert, report suspicious activity, and follow guidance from local authorities during holiday events.
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