ISIS is not launching terrorist attacks against hospitals, FBI says
Posts on social media claiming that hospitals are being targeted for a series of upcoming coordinated terrorist attacks lack credibility, the American Hospital Association (AHA) said, citing an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The AHA and the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC) issued a joint statement on March 26, in which they shared that they received reports on March 18 about the multicity attacks from a terrorist group called ISIS-K. This claim stemmed from a widely shared post on X/Twitter.
However, after consulting with the FBI, the claims made by the user on the platform were deemed to be bogus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the AHA and Health-ISAC notified the field of the potential threat, indicating that no further information was available to either corroborate the threat or dismiss it as not credible,” the groups said.
“Generally, foreign terrorist groups do not publicize their upcoming attacks,” they added.
However, both expressed concern that the widely viewed post “might encourage others to engage in malicious activity directed toward the health sector.”
The user claimed ISIS-K, an Iraqi cell, intended to use car bombs to attack hospitals in mid-tier cities with limited security. Health-ISAC, which monitors security threats, recommended facilities be on high alert in case the information was accurate.
Now, it and the AHA are recommending “standard vigilance,” including posting a “visible security presence to deter any act of targeted violence on hospital premises” and reporting anything suspicious to law enforcement.
The groups said they were told the FBI would immediately announce any threat it deems credible. But for now, it appears chatter on social media about potential terrorism lacks any merit.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.