July 2016
The FBI and DHS define radicalization as the process through which an individual changes
from a nonviolent belief system to a belief system that includes the willingness to actively
advocate, facilitate, or use unlawful violence as a method to effect societal or political
change.
Indicators of Potential Violent Extremist Radicalization or Mobilization
 Consumption and sharing of media glorifying violent extremist acts in
attempting to mobilize others to violence;

Withholding or misrepresenting information necessary for counterterrorism efforts
such as residency status or immigration history, including use of multiple questionable
residence locations, Social Security numbers, or personal contacts on official DHS
records or public documents;

Communicating with known or suspected foreign- or US-based violent extremists
using e-mail, social media platforms, or encrypted messaging applications;

A subject’s advocacy that their religious, cultural, or national group requires violent
action against an external threat;

Use of cover terms to mask the true meaning of events or nefarious activities combined
with active advocacy of violence;

Attempting to enlist in the US military or state and local law enforcement, or seeking
employment in a correctional institution by individuals confirmed to be known or
suspected terrorist matches in government counterterrorism screening databases; and

Reports to law enforcement that a community member has initiated unexplained
isolation, including broken contact with friends and family, unexplained self- initiated
exit from school or work, combined with advocacy of violence.
Behaviors Associated with Pre-Operational Preparations for Attack
 Participation in weapons training, paramilitary exercises, and reconnaissance and
surveillance activities in a manner that is reasonably indicative of pre-operational
planning related to terrorism, particularly in conjunction with advocacy of violence;

Use of cover terms to mask the true meaning of events or nefarious activities combined
with active advocacy of violence;

Acquisition of unusual quantities of weapons and ammunition or materials that could be
used to produce explosives, such as hydrogen peroxide, acetone, gasoline, propane, or
fertilizer; and

Activities that a reasonable person would deem as suspiciously indicating a storage
facility or other area is being used to construct an explosive device.
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Behaviors Associated with Possible Plans for Small-Arms Attacks
 Suspicious firearms purchases such as attempted purchases by individuals providing
inconsistent or suspect identification, refusal to fill out the appropriate
documentation, or issuance of vague or cryptic warnings that are violent in nature
during purchase;

Suspicious training behavior, such as the targeting of effigies or mimicking of specific
operational conditions at gun ranges or gun shows, or practicing assault tactics at paint
ball facilities; and

Loitering at locations frequented by government or military personnel, unusual
sketching, particularly of facility layout or security measures, measuring distances, testing
security through hoax emergency calls, and timing personnel ingress and egress.
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