There were no specific threats of Iranian drone attacks being planned against California, five law enforcement sources familiar with the reports told NBC News Wednesday, following other media reports that Iran sought to bombard California with drones launched from a ship offshore in retaliation for the U.S. military strikes that began last week.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have been examining a variety of intelligence reports in recent days out of concern the attacks on Iran could inspire violence, or that Iran itself could direct its agents to commit terrorist acts, the sources said.
Many scenarios have been considered, including the use of improvised explosive devices, drones, or other technology, and this type of information is often shared in bulletins that contain ‘raw’ information that hasn’t been vetted.
The information about a drone attack scenario was attributed to an FBI bulletin sent to law enforcement in late February.
The FBI in Los Angeles declined to comment.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said state officials have been monitoring intelligence channels and sharing information with local police, and said he was familiar with the media reports.
“Drone issues have been always top of mind, and we’ve assembled work groups specifically around those concerns,” he said during an unrelated news conference Wednesday.
His office emailed, “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”
The US Department of Justice has said Iran has attempted to carry out acts of violence on US soil, including a murder-for-hire plot against President Trump in late 2024, and a scheme to assassinate an Iranian-American writer in Brooklyn, New York.