What is changing in regard to homegrown and lone wolf terrorists?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Homegrown terrorists are American citizens or legal residents who have become radicalized either on their own or through some form of recruitment by al-Qaeda. Increasingly, they act as "lone wolves," allowing them to operate under the radar. Such terrorists are more likely to use crude or easily obtained weaponry, and may communicate with terrorist organizations online or simply view materials of interest that have been posted by terrorist cells.
These individuals may receive ideological encouragement, but not financial or material support,
making them ancillary to the primary group and very difficult to detect by intelligence and law enforcement services. Muslim Americans believe that the American presence in Iraq and Afghanistan is an affront to Islam and a direct attack on Muslim nations and people. Muslim Americans and non-Muslim American have access to such groups via increased connectivity.
The Internet and various social media platforms have allowed U.S. residents to reach out to or be recruited by extremists around the globe, gaining access to ideologies, philosophies, propaganda,
and even their methods of violence. Access to training and operational support, although not as simple as a Google search, can be found online for those seeking it. In the United States, such homegrown terrorists have largely flown beneath the radar—many have no criminal records.