An ISIS terror plot targeting the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade was planned but never carried out, according to revealed FBI records obtained by the NBC Chicago investigative team, NBC reported on Thursday.
According to the records, the parade was to be targeted by a backpack bomb as part of a series of terror attacks against "gay targets" across the US.
The attack was planned in a Discord chat room by a group named "Islamic State of America," NBC reported.
"We will be attacking the Chicago pride parade with a backpack,” one of the members wrote, according to the records. “We are planning on starting with a couple small attacks to get noticed and then start growing from there inshaallah (sic).”
"It certainly should have been taken seriously in the moment..." former Chicago Police Department chief of detectives Eugene Roy was quoted by NBC as saying after viewing the documents. "It's just literally it's everybody's worst nightmare having something like that in a densely populated urban community."
According to NBC, Pride Chicago officials were not made aware of the 2024 threat until now, but said that "they will continue to march in solidarity."
Even so, in 2024, the FBI and Homeland Security issued a joint statement warning that "foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month."
Chicago Pride Parade bombing meant to be a precursor attack
During recent raids in Detroit, the FBI uncovered a stockpile of weapons, including assualt rifles, ammo, and tactical vests allegedly connected to three individuals planning to attack various LGBTQ+ bars and clubs over Halloween, NBC reported. The three are currently being held without bond.
An FBI affidavit for the case reportedly showed evidence that the Halloween attacks were a part of the terror attacks meant to follow the Chicago Pride Parade bombing, according to NBC.
“The Chicago Police Department is a long- standing member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and is in daily communication with its members from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies," a CPD spokesman said to NBC in a Thursday statement. "CPD takes every threat seriously and puts measures in place to ensure public safety.”