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Former FBI Investigator Addresses Local Terrorism Concerns

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- ISIS released a propaganda video Monday in which it warns that any country that attacks it would suffer the same fate as Paris. A speaker even mentions America and Washington D.C.

So how concerned should we be here? Larry Likar, a former FBI Investigator and Professor of Criminology at La Roche College, says, "I don't think we're at the stage where anybody should be unduly concerned about terrorism concerning in the United States."

He thinks the concern is greater in Europe, where he says Islamic extremists actually have passive support in some communities. "There's a passive support basis that seems to be fairly substantial," said Likar. "They know about the activities, but they don't report it."

"In the United States, our Muslim community is very well integrated," he said. As a result, he says law enforcement is much more likely to learn about a possible threat here very early on.

"There's not a base of people, a broad base of people, who happen to be of the Islamic faith who actually believe or even tolerate that type of ideology here," he said.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay has told police to be more visible and says they'll be hyper vigilant for home-grown terrorists.

"I'm concerned about that," said Chief McLay. "We're all concerned about that and tied to that is the possibility of copycat effects when they are violent events like this."

Likar believes that is legitimate concern across our nation: "Will that happen? Someone who says, 'I was inspired. I've been on the web,' and we trace it back? That will probably happen."

Unfortunately, he says that's very difficult to stop. In fact, he says there was a troubling example back in May.

A planned attack in Garland, Texas, was thwarted when he says two ISIS sympathizers began shooting at police. They were shot and killed.

Despite no immediate threats being made in the Pittsburgh area, Pennsylvania State Police say there will be beefed-up security at Steelers games, and the Wolf Administration urged Pennsylvanians to stay vigilant.

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