Federal legislation enforcement businesses, a brand new evaluation launched Thursday, stated they’re “monitoring a number of threats of unknown credibility” in opposition to folks planning to attend Sunday’s Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale, Arizona.
These folks embrace President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and members of the Kirk household, in response to the report.
“Violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders could view the memorial service or associated occasions as enticing assault targets as a result of attendance of those people, different senior US authorities officers, state and native authorities officers, and political activists and attributable to main worldwide media consideration,” in response to the memo issued by businesses together with the FBI, Dept. of Homeland Safety (DHS), Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The memo was distributed to legislation enforcement and authorities businesses and obtained by ABC Information.
The report comes as DHS, earlier on Thursday, designated the funeral as a Particular Occasion Evaluation Ranking (SEAR) Stage 1 occasion, a DHS official advised ABC Information.
The funeral may have the identical degree of safety because the Tremendous Bowl or the Boston Marathon.
The federal businesses report they haven’t any data to recommend there’s a verified, credible plot in opposition to the occasion. The businesses, although, level to unverified threats they’re selecting up, in addition to latest episodes of political violence and the truth that there have been threats towards political targets in Arizona.
Objects are displayed within the makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk exterior the headquarters of Turning Level USA on September 17, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Joe Raedle/Getty Photos
Lone offenders, in response to the doc, stay the highest risk, however there are additionally considerations about home extremists and international terror organizations.
William Mack, the Secret Service particular agent in command of the Phoenix discipline workplace, stated in an announcement that the Secret Service has been designated because the federal coordinator for the funeral.
“Our groups are already on the bottom in Phoenix and Glendale, working side-by-side with state, native, and federal companions,” Mack stated. “Collectively, we’re absolutely dedicated to making sure that these solemn occasions obtain the great safety and assist they require.”
A few of these native law enforcement officials embrace officers from the Glendale, Arizona, police division.
The division is navigating a heightened safety risk amid expectations of a large crowd at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday.
“We is not going to be stunned if greater than 100,000 folks present up,” stated Jose Santiago, public data officer for the Glendale Police Division.
He says they anticipate folks to journey in from throughout the nation and start lining up for the first-come, first-served service by 2 a.m. on Sunday, if not earlier than. The car parking zone opens at 7:00 a.m., native time. Tenting within the space is not going to be allowed.
“Officers might be wherever the attention can see, and in locations it will probably’t,” stated Santiago, referring to plane, many drones within the air and helicopters on the prepared.
The Division of Public Security and Secret Service might be working the present inside State Farm Stadium.
Derek Mayer, the previous assistant particular agent in command of the Secret Service’s Chicago discipline workplace, who oversaw large-scale occasions, advised ABC Information the designation permits for a “entire of presidency strategy.”
“DHS often declares occasions across the nation as SEAR-level to make sure the security of these in attendance,” Mayer, now the chief safety officer and vice chairman of govt safety at P4 stated.
“This designation permits for a ‘entire of presidency’ strategy, which implies many various native, state and federal businesses will provide assets and manpower to ensure additional safety measures are in place. With President Trump and plenty of different high-profile people anticipated to attend, together with the quantity of public consideration centered on the funeral, it is sensible for DHS to declare this as a SEAR occasion,” Mayer added.
The funeral is open to the general public, however those that plan to attend are requested to register with Turning Level USA.
