Boston’s top FBI agent cautioned against a “broad brush” approach in regard to Muslims yesterday, saying the agency is only interested in specific terrorist threats and suspects.
Special Agent in Charge Harold Shaw, when asked on Boston Herald Radio about Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s proposal to temporarily bar all Muslims from entering the United States, said, “I would assess not all Muslims are terrorists, nor should those individuals be painted with that broad brush that they are.”
He added, “Interesting enough, within the FBI, we’re not only responsible as a priority program here in investigating terrorism matters, we’re also responsible for the civil rights ... of all individuals who are here within the United States.”
Shaw also rejected Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s idea of mass surveillance on Muslim citizens without having knowledge of a possible threat.
“Our investigations are well-tailored and controlled in terms of the protocol and process we run under,” he said on Boston Herald Radio’s “Herald Drive” show. “We do not do bulk collection ... everything is under a predicated reason and closely scrutinized, not only by FBI headquarters, but by (the Department of Justice). So in terms of our investigation they’re all reviewed and scrutinized by the DOJ. There is a practical or factual basis as to why we would predicate a specific case and give appropriate checks and balances in terms of making sure that we’re using the appropriate techniques for the appropriate investigation.”
Shaw added that the FBI does not surveil mosques or any other religious institutions, instead focusing on the individuals suspected of having terrorist intent.
Asked whether Boston is a “hotbed” for terrorist threats in the wake of the marathon bombings and other incidents, Shaw said, “I don’t think it’s overly prevalent here. ... In the Boston area, we have had a number of cases (and) successful disruptions,” he said. "(Boston) didn’t get, at least from my assessment, anything that was more significant than what we’ve seen in some of the other major field offices.”
Citing the recent attacks in Paris and Belgium, Shaw said terrorist planning and tactics have become “more complex,” combining gunmen with bombing attacks. He said that complexity does make it possible, however, for investigators to be able to gain intelligence from cells to thwart attacks before they happen.
“It’s not an easy job,” he said. “I have no indication at this point there’s anything afoot within the Greater Boston area. But as history has ... dictated, we do everything in our power to stay in front of these threats. Really, in terms of the FBI’s mission, it’s to identify, prevent and disrupt any type of terrorist activity before it actually happens.”