ISIS Calls for Arson Attacks on Synagogues During Easter and Passover Weekend

GLOBAL — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) published an operational call in Al-Naba Issue 541 on April 3 ordering followers to set fire to synagogues across the United States, Europe, Russia, and India.

The call coincides with both Easter (April 20) and Passover (April 12 to 20), placing Jewish congregations at elevated risk during the highest-attendance worship period of the year.

Al-Naba framed the directive as retaliation for Israel’s closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, which has been shut to Muslim worshippers since February 28. Israeli authorities cited public safety to justify the closure. The closure has now entered its 36th day, with Israeli authorities extending it through at least mid-April.

Al-Naba Issue 541 Call to Action

The passage from Al-Naba Issue 541 stated: “In the face of the tragedy of the closure of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque, it is incumbent upon Muslims everywhere, those who yearn to come to the aid of the site of their Prophet’s Night Journey, to rise up and set fire to the Jewish synagogues scattered across America, Europe, Russia, India, and elsewhere.”

The directive specifically named America, Europe, Russia, and India, with the call extending to all regions “elsewhere.” The call to target synagogues was explicit and verbatim.

Assessment:The synagogue directive is explicit and verbatim in the primary text. Multiple English-language outlets reported a separate church-targeting passage; this cannot be verified from the primary Arabic text of Al-Naba 541, which has not been independently reviewed. See Intelligence Gaps.

What to Watch

• April 12 to 20 (Passover/Easter window): Peak threat period. Synagogue services Friday evenings and Saturday mornings; Easter services April 20 morning. Any arson attempt at a house of worship during this window should be assessed against this Al-Naba directive.

• Lone-actor indicators: Accelerant purchases (gasoline in containers, lighter fluid in bulk), surveillance of religious buildings, social media posts referencing Al-Naba 541 or “Sydney Heroes.”

• DHS/FBI advisory: A public joint intelligence bulletin or NTAS bulletin would signal U.S. authorities assess the threat as credible and specific. Absence to date does not indicate low threat; it may reflect classification or interagency process timing.

• Copycat effect: Any successful or attempted attack during this window may trigger additional attempts. The distributed lone-actor model means one incident does not resolve the threat.

• European security posture: Watch for elevated security announcements from interior ministries in major European countries regarding houses of worship. No formal threat-level adjustments by European interior ministries have been located in available reporting as of April 4.

Official Statements

• ISIS, Al-Naba Issue 541, April 3: “It is incumbent upon Muslims everywhere [...] to rise up and set fire to the Jewish synagogues scattered across America, Europe, Russia, India, and elsewhere.”

• ISIS, Al-Naba Issue 541, April 3: Ordered followers to “emulate the actions of the Sydney Heroes.”

• DHS / FBI: No public statement located as of April 4.