There have been 74 Islamist terror plots or attacks against the U.S. homeland since 9/11, with more plots in 2015 than any other year since 2001. For example:
- July 4, 2015. Alexander Ciccolo had plans to use pressure-cooker bombs, Molotov cocktails, and firearms to attack a college or college bar. He had purchased pressure cookers and was making the firebombs when he was arrested.
- April 10, 2015. John T. Booker Jr. began purchasing bomb materials and gathering information on military targets. He drove to Fort Riley with plans to detonate a bomb, but his “collaborators” were undercover agents.
- February 14, 2015. Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud used his brother’s contacts to slip into Syria. After being trained in hand-to-hand combat and the use of small arms and explosives, he told an unnamed person that he wanted to kill Americans, especially military personnel, police officers, or others in uniform.
However, many extremists seek to travel abroad to fight for terrorist groups not included in this count, even though these individuals play significant roles in these groups. There is much more to terrorism than plotting to attack the U.S.
Monetary Support
Money makes the world go round. A New Jersey man tried to help his brother fly to the Middle East to join ISIS by allowing him to use his credit card to purchase the ticket. Six Bosnian immigrants sent money and military equipment to terrorist organizations. The individuals, states, and organizations that provide monetary support to terrorist organizations are the fuel that keeps the fire burning.
Physical Support
Every organization must have the manpower to operate successfully. With the help of social media, terrorist organizations, especially ISIS, have mastered the art of recruitment. An Air Force veteran, knowledgeable in the installation and maintenance of aircraft engines, navigation systems, and weapon systems, attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Three Denver schoolgirls skipped class to fly to Syria. Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, mentioned above, started as a foreign fighter but then returned to attack the U.S. In the near future, The Heritage Foundation will publish a piece that looks specifically at these foreign fighters and how the U.S. can combat this worrying trend.
Striking Terrorism at Its Source
The U.S. should continue to act proactively to prevent terror attacks before they endanger the public. Regrettably, these plots aren’t the whole problem. Foreign fighters and other methods of providing support to terrorist groups also need to be combatted. Ultimately, the U.S. will need to get to the root of the problem—defeating ISIS and other radical Islamist groups—to overcome this threat.
Angelica Hickerson is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please click here.