New York on high alert as suspected ISIS associates arrested across major cities

New York City braces itself in the face of a potentially threatening terrorist attack following the arrest of eight men suspected of having ties with ISIS, leading to mounting fears among top security officials.

The Port Authority's senior security official has expressed intense concern regarding an "extremely serious" threat prevalent in New York City post the arrest of Tajik nationals thought to be linked to ISIS. They were caught crossing from Mexico into the US.

Greg Ehrie, the man in charge of security for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, highlighted the severity of the impending danger by comparing it to a "gathering storm". Speaking to CNN's Erin Burnett, he said: "You're seeing all the fronts coming into play."

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While stressing on the seriousness of the situation, he refrained from revealing specific information about potential attack methods or targets within the city.

The suspects, believed to be associated with ISIS-Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, were apprehended in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, Newsweek revealed. Prior to his current position, Ehrie garnered experience in terror investigations at the FBI, the report added, reports the Mirror.

He speculated about the possibility of an upcoming attack on CNN after the Friday arrests. At present, the detainees are in custody on immigration charges with no formal terrorism allegations against them, insiders informed The Associated Press anonymously.

The link between eight individuals and ISIS remains shrouded in uncertainty, with only suspicions tying them to the notorious ISIS-K faction. Monitored by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, these suspects are now facing deportation as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) joins forces with the JTTF.

Despite passing through government checks last spring without triggering alarms, their presence has raised concerns. A joint statement from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the arrest of "several non-citizens" but withheld specific details. They did, however, highlight that the US is navigating a "heightened threat environment".

These detentions underscore the existing alert but are not its direct cause. The recent Hamas incursion into Israel on Oct. 7 has escalated terroristic threat levels in the US, as stated by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

This incursion sparked renewed violence between Hamas and Israeli forces, culminating in the tragic loss of over 36,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza, including numerous women and children, amidst Israel's efforts to root out Hamas.

Wray also voiced his apprehension about potential terrorist threats exploiting border weaknesses during a congressional hearing.

Both agencies have committed to relentless vigilance, stating, "The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security."