//The Wire//2300Z January 3, 2025//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING NEW YEAR’S ATTACKS CONTINUE TO RAISE SUSPICION.//

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-HomeFront-

USA: Overnight the Trusted Traveler Program was suspended at many military bases nationwide in the wake of the New Year’s terror attacks. AC: This program serves as the larger umbrella of expedited security check processes, including TSA Pre-Check and the automated access systems used to expedite the entry of logistics/cargo to military bases around the country. The cessation of this program (which is probably temporary) strongly indicates that the risk of further domestic incidents occurring remains high. It is unclear as to if this move will impact TSA Pre-Check, or if this is just a change that pertains to military base access.

Nevada: This afternoon, the public became aware of a manifesto sent by the Vegas bomber, which contained exceptionally serious claims. After the now-viral manifesto became public, the FBI stated that they believed the email was authentic and from the bomber himself. AC: As one might expect, the claims made in the manifesto will take some time to verify. However, in the meantime, the communications from the Vegas bomber do alleviate some more immediately pressing concerns. Namely that the individual almost certainly acted alone, and that follow-on attacks pertaining to this specific incident are not expected at this time.

Louisiana: Questionable details continue to abound following the investigation into the Bourbon Street attack on New Year’s. At the Texas residence of the alleged attacker, a journalist was able to enter what was reportedly the home of the attacker, to find a scene that only raises more questions. AC: As this story has gone viral, more details will likely come about at some point. However, this situation is exceptionally suspicious, to the point that it is hardly believable. A journalist being able to gain access to an active crime scene (and thus contaminating it with the DNA of an entire film crew) is hardly believable in the first place. Even more unbelievable is the FBI releasing an active crime scene 24 hours after a major terror attack. This is completely unheard of throughout the field of law enforcement. Beyond that, most of the evidence crucial to even the most basic investigation was left behind. Religious texts (a open Koran displaying a passage about martyrdom), tools, and possibly even a laptop, all were left behind after the FBI searched the residence.

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Analyst Comments: As with all terror attacks, there are details that often times do not make sense. Considering how the flow of information has changed around the world over the past few years, details that would have not been noticed for many months (if at all) are now able to be scrutinized in great depth on social media. While this can result in a hypersensitivity to perceived irregularities, in some cases, this rapid access to (mostly) unfiltered information has altered the way the average person takes in information following a major terror attack. In the case of the Bourbon Street attack, so many sketchy details have emerged that the truth is hard to discern, and the more we learn, the more suspicious the details become. Likewise, the recent developments regarding the Vegas bombing are even more suspicious and worthy of closer examination. Neither event appears to be the boilerplate terror attack that has been expected for some time, and much more investigation will be required to come close to the truth of what really happened.

Analyst: S2A1

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