Pro-ISIS Video Calls For Terrorist Attacks In San Francisco, Las Vegas
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Iconic, Bay Area images took center stage in a new pro-ISIS video.
That video is calling for attacks on San Francisco and Las Vegas.
The video surfaced yesterday and it glorified the man behind the Orlando nightclub shooting. It shows several San Francisco landmarks: the Golden Gate Bridge,
the Financial District and Powell Street ... along with a message: attack.
The propaganda video praises the Orlando nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, and brings the message of terror close to home.
But why San Francisco, and why now? The answer may be the city's LGBT-friendly atmosphere and the large Pride parade and festivities over the weekend.
KPIX 5 security analyst, and former FBI agent, Jeff Harp said, "...San Francisco stands for a lot of things. Freedom and pride ... So it could be that they have decided to lash out at San Francisco for that."
Harp says the video may be intended to inspire individuals like Mateen, lone wolf terrorists already in the United States.
In the video, under a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge, ISIS says "Arise, o Muslims and kill the unbelievers in their own homes."
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez sits on the U.S. Homeland Security Committee and says the message isn't exactly new.
"Let me tell you something about the Bay Area and California: we've never been spared," Sanchez said.
She says terrorists have been aiming at the Bay Area since 9/11.
"We've had just really good intelligence and people working every day to keep us safe," Sanchez said.
The Congresswoman declined to give any specifics about terror plots, but she reminded us to stay alert.
"There's things going on all the time. But if we're doing our job right, we're catching almost everything. You haven't seen in so many years attacks here in California. Do things slip through? Yes. What's the biggest first step we have in stopping what these people are trying to do? It's our own people," Sanchez said.
Cailfornia Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is running for election this year against Sanchez for a seat in Congress, said the government must work with Muslims in America to fight "self-radicalization".
Finally, San Francisco police said there is no specific threat to the city but as always, if you see something, say something.
