Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the highest priority of the Justice Department has been to protect America against acts of terrorism. During this time, the Justice Department has significantly improved its ability to identify, penetrate, and dismantle terrorist plots as a result of a series of structural reforms, the development of new intelligence and law enforcement tools, and a new mindset that values information sharing, communication and prevention. See the Fact Sheet: Justice Department Counter-Terrorism Efforts Since 9/11.

Tips and Public Leads/Most Wanted Terrorists

• The FBI encourages citizens to report suspected criminal activity or information related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by calling an FBI Field Office or by using this form.
• The FBI posts pictures and descriptions of the most wanted terrorists on its site. The FBI also seeks information on certain individuals in connection with possible terrorist threats to the United States.

The National Security Division (NSD) was created in March 2006 by the USA PATRIOT Reauthorization and Improvement Act (Pub. L. No. 109-177).  The creation of the NSD consolidated the Justice Department’s primary national security operations:  the former Office of Intelligence Policy and Review and the Counterterrorism and Counterespionage Sections of the Criminal Division.  The new Office of Law and Policy and the Executive Office, as well as the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism (which previously operated out of the Criminal Division, complete the NSD) complete the NSD.  The NSD commenced operations in September 2006 upon the swearing in of the first Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

The FBI’s Counterintelligence Section is responsible for exposing, preventing, and investigating intelligence activities on U.S. soil. The Bureau is dedicated to its role in counterterrorism and its mission to protect the United States from further acts of terrorism. The FBI is the lead law enforcement agency for investigating cyber-based attacks by foreign adversaries and terrorists. Terrorism 2002-2005, published by the FBI provides an overview of the terrorist incidents and prevention that have taken place in the U.S. and its territories during those years

Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) are small cells of highly trained, locally based, passionately committed investigators, analysts, linguists, SWAT experts, and other specialists from dozens of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It is a multi-agency effort led by the Justice Department and FBI designed to combine the resources of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration actively works to dismantle narco-terrorist organizations by using specially trained law enforcement organizations to find and eliminate drug related terrorist groups.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is committed to working with all levels of government to help prevent, disrupt, and defeat terrorist acts before they occur. BJA supports several initiatives to train law enforcement officers in counter-terrorism efforts.

The Office for Victims of Crime offers various services to victims of terrorism and criminal mass violence, including contacts for information and incident-specific phone numbers and Web sites for victims only.

Law Enforcement National Data Exchange (N-DEx)
N-DEx will provide law enforcement agencies with a powerful new investigative tool to search, link, analyze, and share criminal justice information such as incident/case reports, incarceration data, and parole/probation data on a national basis to a degree never before possible.

For more information about the Department components that are most active in this area, consult the National Security Division, Criminal Division, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Web sites.