FBI concerned over potential 'organised attack' in US after Russian concert hall shooting

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has expressed concerns over the likelihood of a potent coordinated assault in the United States that can be similar to the attack that claimed the lives of thousands at a Russian concert hall in March. The director of the FBI plans to inform a House of Representatives panel on the issue on Thursday (Apr 11).

“Looking back over my career in law enforcement, I’d be hard-pressed to think of a time where so many threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once,” Christopher Wray is set to tell lawmakers during a budget hearing. “But that is the case as I sit here today.”

The targeted attack on a concert hall in Russia's Moscow on March 22, which claimed the lives of at least 144 people, is said to be the country's deadliest assault ever in nearly two decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put the blame on Ukraine for the attack without citing evidence. However, a branch of the Islamic State terror groupclaimed the responsibility of the massacre.

United States officials are concerned about the risk of a potential attack by an individual or a small group influenced by the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Wray is expected to testify before the panel.

Of increasing concern "is the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, akin to the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia Concert Hall a couple of weeks ago,” is what Wray is expected to tell a House of Representatives panel, according to news agency Reuters.

Wray also intends to push lawmakers to revive an American surveillance program, that is set to expire in April, dubbing it as an integral tool to combat US adversaries.

Members of both parties blocked a modest overhaul of the program in the House on Wednesday (Apr 10) stating concerns that it did not go far enough in limiting the government's surveillance powers.

“It’s critical in securing our nation, and we’re in crunch time,” Wray plans to tell lawmakers.

(With inputs from agencies)