FBI and DHS warn of lone wolf attacks on July 4. NYC and San Francisco flagged. Drones and copycat threats cited. 72.2M Americans expected to travel. Crowds will be massive.

Federal agencies are sounding the alarm. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued joint bulletins warning that lone wolf attacks are the top threat to July 4 celebrations in New York City and San Francisco. The concern is not vague. It’s rooted in recent violence and specific intelligence. The agencies cite the New Year’s Day vehicle-ramming in New Orleans that killed 14 people and the Boulder firebombing last month that left one dead and eight injured. Both attacks were carried out by individuals acting alone. That’s the profile they’re watching.

The bulletins say attackers could be motivated by a mix of grievances. Political, religious, ethnic, anti-government, personal. No single ideology. No clear affiliation. That’s what makes lone actors hard to track. They don’t broadcast. They don’t organize. They act. The Israel-Hamas conflict is flagged as a trigger. Officials say large gatherings could be seen as symbolic targets. That includes fireworks shows, parades, and demonstrations.

Drones are also flagged. Not hobbyist drones. Modified units. Short-range aircraft capable of carrying payloads. The agencies say drones have been used in conflict zones to drop munitions and detonate on impact. No confirmed plots for July 4, but the risk is real. Unauthorized drone flights could disrupt events or worse. Law enforcement is deploying counter-UAS systems in high-density zones.

The Macy’s fireworks show in New York is under special watch. The FBI says it draws interest from malicious actors looking for targets of opportunity. No specific threat reported, but the bulletin says high-profile events attract attention. San Francisco’s waterfront celebrations are also flagged. DHS says extremists could exploit First Amendment-protected demonstrations to stage attacks or cause disruption.