FBI director: Terrorists trying to use drones in attacks

The head of the FBI says we may soon be living in a world where terrorists won’t even have to risk their lives to carry out mass murder on innocents.

In his first testimony before Congress on Wednesday, new FBI Director Christopher Wray says that one of the main concerns of the bureau currently is the possibility of terrorists using drones in attacks. 

‘It’s a topic that we’ve been discussing a lot lately. I think we do know that terrorists organizations have an interest in using drones. We’ve seen that overseas already with some growing frequency and I think the expectation is it’s coming here imminently,’ Wary said, after being asked a question about drones by Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota). 

Wray said that terrorists have already started to use drones in attacks overseas 

‘I think they are relatively easy to acquire, relatively easy to operate, and quite difficult to disrupt and monitor so it’s something I would welcome working with Congress as well as with the other agencies to try and figure out a solution,’ Wray added. 

When asked specifically if there were any groups within the FBI dedicated to tackling the threats drones present, Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, chimed in.

Rasmussen said that counterterror agencies have been consulting with intelligence professions to better understand tactics and techniques terror groups have been employing with drone warfare. 

‘That could be dropping small explosives the size of a grenade. It could be dispersal of toxins, potentially,’ Rasmussen said.

He added that drones have become more of a threat very recently.  

‘Two years ago this was not a problem. A year ago it was an emerging problem. Now it’s a real problem. So we’re quickly trying to up our game,’ Rasmussen testified during the hearing.

Wray was sworn in as FBI chief in August, three months after President Trump fired his predecessor, James Comey.