FBI warns of possible threat to churches over holiday

On Friday, Federal authorities were warning Americans that Islamic State sympathizers were calling for attacks on churches and other holiday celebrations.

The warning was issued after a list of U.S. churches was posted on a militant’s social media site.

The FBI said it is currently investigating the credibility of that post.

ABC 17 News spoke with terrorism expert Paul Fennewald about the agency’s warning.

“They’re not telling people, you know, don’t go to church or go to a Christmas market or things like that, but just be aware of your surroundings,” said Fennewald. “They put things like this out so that it just kind of heightens everybody’s security awareness.”

The warning went out to law enforcement agencies nationwide just days after the Christmas market attack in Berlin, Germany.

The Missouri Center for Education Safety has a list on their website that describes watch signs of terrorist activities people can look out for.