HOUSTON – Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has asked residents to do their part to keep Harris County safe in light of a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Bulletin, the first of its kind since 2023, warns that the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel is causing a heightened threat environment across the nation.
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Some of the specific threats detailed in the bulletin include low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks, targeting of U.S. government officials, and the possibility of violent extremists independently mobilizing to violence if leaders in Iran issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence. There’s also concern about anti-Semitic or anti-Isrrael related terrorist attacks.
“The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is actively coordinating with public safety partners at all levels of government to identify, assess, and swiftly respond to potential threats against our region,” Sheriff Gonzalez said. “While we’re aware of no credible threats of imminent violence at this moment, we will remain especially vigilant during this time of international conflict. At the same time, we know that our residents are often the best source of key information that we rely upon to keep our community safe.”
Sheriff Gonzalez encourages residents to take the following steps:
- Stay informed by following updates from trusted local, state, and federal sources.
- Follow cybersecurity best practices available through DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- Report suspicious activity: If You See Something, Say Something. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency reports, contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000, your local FBI Field Office, or the Fusion Center at 713-884-4710.
- Learn how to identify and report suspicious behavior through the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative.
KPRC 2 News has also reached out to FBI Houston, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Houston, and the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. We will update this story with any developments.
