Republicans were quick to blame President Biden’s weak border policies after a suspected terrorist attack on the U.S. northern border with Canada.
On Wednesday, a car exploded on the Rainbow Bridge near Niagara Falls, causing a massive explosion at a toll checkpoint that killed the vehicle’s two occupants and injured a law enforcement officer. The FBI Terrorism Task Force is investigating, but officials have yet to confirm a motive.
The attack on the northern border comes just days after FBI Director Chris Wray warned that the threat of attacks by foreign violent extremists on Americans reached “a whole other level” following Hamas’ bloody attack on Israel.
Wray said that since Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people, foreign terrorist organizations have increased their rhetoric, calling for attacks on the US and its citizens.
Some Republicans chose X, formerly known as Twitter, to blame President Biden’s weak border policies for the attack, which remains under investigation.
On Wednesday, a car exploded on the Rainbow Bridge near Niagara Falls, causing a massive explosion at a toll checkpoint that killed the vehicle’s two occupants and injured a law enforcement officer.
Rep. Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called for “full deportation efforts” and called on the U.S. to seal its borders “immediately.”
‘That’s how it starts. We must close the borders immediately. Full deportation efforts must begin. The US no longer needs to be the hospitality suite of the world.”
“Border security is homeland security and that mission never ends,” said Rep. August Pfluger.
“Today’s shocking explosion at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara County is a heartbreaking reminder that weak border security puts us all at risk,” wrote Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y.
In February, she and colleagues launched the Northern Border Security Caucus to advocate for better security at the United States’ northern border.
‘For months I have been warning about the wave of suspected terrorists entering through our northern border. We must significantly improve border security at ALL of our borders, including the North,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X: “Our borders are under attack and the Biden administration continues to sit on its hands. It is long past time to put Americans first.”
President Biden has been informed and is ‘closely monitoring’ the suspected terrorist attack.
“The White House is closely monitoring the situation and law enforcement is on site and investigating,” a National Security Council spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
Congressional leaders also continued to monitor the suspected terrorist attack.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he has requested a briefing on the attack from officials.
“My staff and I are closely monitoring the explosion at the New York-Canada border and communicating with members of the NY delegation on the ground. I have requested a briefing from the relevant federal officials to collect all concrete information as quickly as possible.’
“In the meantime, we are praying for the safety and well-being of all first responders on the ground,” Johnson wrote on X.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he is “monitoring the situation closely” at the Rainbow Bridge crossing. He thanked the ‘brave first responders’ who were first on the scene.
Elise Stefanik, chairwoman of the House of Representatives Republican Conference, who also represents New York, said she has been in “immediate direct contact” with law enforcement and Border Patrol officials.
“We will continue to work to ensure that all resources are made available to law enforcement at the northern border,” she added.
Wray’s warning last week was top of mind Wednesday in the aftermath of the explosion.
“In a year when the threat of terrorism was already high, the ongoing war in the Middle East has taken the threat of attack on Americans in the United States to a whole new level,” Wray told members of Congress at a conference last week. hearing on global threats.
Two dead in ‘attempted terror attack’ on Rainbow Bridge
A car exploded at the iconic Niagara Falls intersection, killing two occupants
“Hezbollah expressed support and praise for Hamas and threatened to attack US interests in the Middle East. Al-Qaeda has made its most specific call to attack the United States in the past five years. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called on jihadists to attack Americans and Jewish people everywhere. ISIS urged its followers to target Jewish communities in the United States and Europe.”
“Given these calls to action, our most immediate concern is that individuals or small groups will draw distorted inspiration from events in the Middle East to carry out attacks here at home,” Wray said in his opening statement before the House Homeland Security Committee .
“That includes homegrown violent extremists inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, and domestic violent extremists who target Jewish Americans or other faith communities, such as Muslim Americans.”
