The FBI has concluded that a social media post alleging plans for a coordinated, multi-city terrorist attack on U.S. hospitals in the coming weeks does not constitute a credible threat.
In a March 26 news release, the agency said that if it receives credible threat information, it will notify potential targets and alert the broader healthcare sector through the American Hospital Association, the Health-ISAC and other appropriate channels.
That release came in response to an earlier alert from the AHA and the Health-ISAC, which cited a widely circulated post on X from user @AXctual. The post claimed that the terrorist group ISIS-K (Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham–Khorasan Province) was planning simultaneous car bomb attacks on hospitals, particularly targeting mid-tier cities with lower security measures.
Out of an abundance of caution, the AHA and Health-ISAC initially notified hospitals of the potential threat March 20, emphasizing that no further information was available to confirm or dismiss its credibility. The organizations also warned that while terrorist groups typically do not announce attacks in advance, public posts like this one could inspire individuals to engage in malicious activity against the health sector.
In response, hospital security teams were urged to maintain heightened vigilance, ensure a visible security presence and review emergency management plans.
