Washington —

A surge in confidence among supporters of the Islamic State terror group — reflected in a series of cyber threats targeting Europe and a deadly attack on a Russian concert hall — has alarmed U.S. security officials.

National security and law enforcement officials have long worried about small groups or individuals drawing inspiration from terror plots around the world to launch attacks in the United States, but FBI Director Christopher Wray will tell lawmakers on Thursday that something even more worrisome may be is brewing.

“There is growing concern now about the possibility of coordinated attacks on home soil, similar to the ISIS-K attacks we saw at the Russian Concert Hall a few weeks ago,” Wray warned in prepared testimony. Subsidiary Body.

Police agencies across Europe have stepped up security days after media outlets linked to the Islamic State, also known as IS or ISIS, issued calls for attacks on stadiums hosting this week’s Champions League football matches in Madrid, London and Paris .

The FBI warning also signals a possible shift in U.S. views on the possible scope of influence of the Islamic State and its Afghan affiliate, which claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack on the Krokos City concert hall outside Moscow. The attack killed 145 people.

After the incident, the Department of Homeland Security said there was no specific or credible intelligence indicating the Islamic State’s ability to threaten the United States.

Multiple U.S. military and intelligence officials said that while the “Islamic State” has ambitions to carry out attacks, there is no indication that the “Islamic State” or any of its global affiliates have the ability to enter the United States.

Kristina Abizaid, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said recently that the terrorist group is “working in a variety of ways to build key U.S.-related capabilities.” She spoke during an appearance on the “In the Room” podcast with terrorism analyst Peter Bergen.

Other warnings focus on threats to targets outside the United States.

Gen. Michael “Eric” Kurila, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia, said, “Islamic State Khorasan has retained the ability to attack U.S. and Western interests overseas with little warning in just six months. and will”. said at a Senate committee hearing last month.

For now, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging Americans to remain vigilant.

“The United States continues to be in a high-threat environment,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told VOA on Wednesday in response to a question about the Islamic State threat to various locations in Europe.

“DHS will continue to work with our partners to assess the threat environment, provide the American public with the latest information, and protect our homes,” the spokesperson added. “We urge the public to remain vigilant and promptly report to local law enforcement Report suspicious activity.”