Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The terrorism advisory system is being modified to reflect a “new phase” in the global fight against extremism, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday, the Washington Post reports.

The current National Terrorism Advisory System, which was launched in 2011, has two levels – elevated throated and imminent threat.

But Johnson, citing new unknown risks from people who are radicalized at home, plans to add a new level – intermediate, which means officials don’t necessarily know the source of a threat.

The secretary said the United States is entering “a new phase in the global terrorist threat that involves not just terrorist directed attacks from overseas but also terrorist inspired attacks here on the homeland and in other countries.” In this environment, he said, “having not had a specific credible piece of intelligence reflecting a specific plot is not the end of the story because we’re dealing with the prospect of terrorist inspired attacks by someone who may be below our radar and who could act on a moment’s notice.”