FBI Director Kash Patel says federal agents disrupted four major terror plots during the holiday season, including what officials described as a “Halloween terror plot,” while warning the threat of a large-scale attack on U.S. soil remains.
Speaking on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast, Patel said the bureau is leaning on new technology to stay ahead of evolving threats, even as the stakes remain high.
“I can tell the American public, just look at the month of December alone last year. We stopped four terrorist attacks in four weeks during the holidays,” Patel told Hannity.
“Everything from the ‘Pumpkin Day’ plot all the way through the attacks that were going to happen in Texas, Florida, and New York — and we stopped them all,” he added.
The so-called “Pumpkin Day” plot involved an alleged ISIS-inspired plan targeting a Detroit-area suburb. Federal authorities said two Michigan men used the codename “pumpkin” as they discussed carrying out a mass shooting.
Patel said additional threats were stopped in Texas, Florida, and New York. In one case previously outlined by the FBI, a North Carolina man allegedly plotted a New Year’s Eve attack using knives and hammers at a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant.
Despite the successful disruptions, Patel made clear that the pressure on federal law enforcement has not eased.
“We are the folks that are responsible for safeguarding America,” Patel said. “We’re doing everything we can to not miss anything.”
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He added that the responsibility of preventing attacks is what keeps him “up at night,” pointing to the constant risk of another large-scale strike similar to the September 11 attacks.
“We are always on the watch for” that kind of scenario, Patel said, warning that terrorist groups remain patient and opportunistic.
“The thing about terrorists is they’re exceedingly patient,” Patel added.
Patel also credited expanded use of artificial intelligence for helping agents keep pace with threats. He said the FBI now uses AI tools to analyze massive volumes of data, including tips submitted by the public, and to assist with criminal investigations.
“AI was never used at the FBI until we got there. I’m using it everywhere,” Patel said.
He pointed to its role in scanning databases for fingerprints and helping agents process thousands of weekly tips more efficiently.
“Can you imagine how many tips the FBI gets a week? Thousands. If we had just humans look at it, we would never sift through them all,” Patel said.
“I put AI in there. We stopped a school massacre in North Carolina because we got a tip and we were able to triage it with artificial intelligence,” he added.
Patel also warned that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has heightened concerns that terrorist organizations could regroup and attempt new attacks, underscoring the need for continued vigilance.
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