FBI Director Says 900 Investigations Find Many ISIS Operatives, Other Extremists

By R. Siva Kumar - 25 Oct '15 00:24AM

Islamic State-related probes make up many of the 900 active investigations that are carried out in the US, locating a number of "suspected homegrown terrorists", FBI Director James Comey said Friday, according to USA Today.

The FBI added that the number includes groups that are not linked with the Islamic State group too. However, the main probe is being carried out into people inspired by the ISIS, who are either thought to be plotting attacks or are "heavily consuming" the propaganda by the state.

Even as the Islamic State group is expanding its operations in the US, it is aiming to drag in "young, discontented prospects" through the social media, according to CNN. This is probably the first official public reference to terrorists thought to be in the US.

While the pace of the investigations has increased in the last few months, Comey suggested that the FBI may not have enough resources. The most stressful day when the threat of attacks increases is July 4, said Comey.

"If that becomes the new normal ... That would be hard to keep up," the director said, though he noted the pace has eased recently.

Meanwhile, the number of Americans travelling to join the IS in Syria has decreased. "Something has happened that is flattening the curve (the number of travelers)," he said.

There is also a rise in "violent crime" in the US. The police personnel, in fact, claim to be feeling anxious due to quick proliferation of cellphone cameras and viral videos, which makes them vulnerable to charges of "misconduct", reported The Associated Press.

"I don't know whether this explains it entirely, but I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind blowing through American law enforcement over the last year, and that wind is surely changing behavior," Comey said.