June 15, 2016

Community Safety Update: No Information Indicating Specific and Credible Threats

The FBI is actively assessing intelligence and at this time has no information indicating specific and credible threats to any segment of our community. The FBI has reviewed several reports of threatening comments and worked with law enforcement partners to evaluate them. The FBI asks the public to continue to report any and all suspicious activity to law enforcement, but currently there is no indication of an elevated risk to Washington residents at this time.

The FBI continually assesses the full spectrum of potential threats that come to our attention and works with law enforcement partners to address them, if needed. Our intelligence and investigative resources are actively engaged throughout the entire year. After a major incident elsewhere in the nation or before a major event in Seattle, the FBI continues this routine, already active posture. Similarly, the FBI is always ready to augment local and state resources if a situation develops that requires additional intelligence analysis, manpower, or specialized capabilities.

In the last four days, the FBI has evaluated and coordinated with partners on three reported threats and not found reason to suggest a pending physical threat.

  • The FBI is working with the Redmond Police Department to investigate telephonic remarks regarding a threat to the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in Redmond.
  • The FBI is working with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to investigate remarks by a North Seattle man who made online remarks threatening a North Seattle mosque. SPD arrested the individual shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14.
  • On Tuesday evening, June 14, the FBI interviewed a Spokane resident who posted threatening language online regarding LGBT-focused bars in Seattle and Tacoma.

(Given the ongoing nature of these investigations, there is no further information that can be provided at this time.)

In addition to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, the FBI is actively communicating with leaders in LGBTQ and Muslim communities organizations. The FBI values partnerships with all Washington communities and will continue to engage them in discussions about their safety concerns.

“As always, the FBI Seattle Division will work with our law enforcement partners to gather, share and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention,” said the FBI Seattle Division’s Special Agent in Charge Frank Montoya, Jr.