Washington's Fusion Center says state does not need to worry about Iranian attacks

Homeland Security officials are warning Americans of a heightened threat environment in the U.S. after the attacks in Iran - including potential violence and cyberattacks.

However, the director of the Washington State Fusion Center said Monday there are no known credible threats in our state.

Pete Stock, said director, would know: he's in charge of Washington's state hub on information about suspicious activity reports in the area.

Located in downtown Seattle, the Fusion Center is owned and operated by the state, and is a focal point for the "receipt, analysis, gathering and sharing of threat-related information."

Stock said many people may not be aware of their existence or their mission, and that the centers are nationwide and were born out of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Their ultimate mission is to prevent terrorism.

"The purpose being 'Let's bring together federal, state, and local resources to share information to prevent terrorism,'" said Stock. “What we are looking for is an unusual behavior.I'm not talking about race, religion, or ethnicity, we are looking for suspicious behavior that might compromise critical infrastructure."

Some of that infrastructure includes, but is not limited to:

• Banking
• Government Continuity
• Transportation and Transit Systems
• Water
• Communication
• Internet systems

Since the Iran conflict, Stock says the center's analysts have been sifting through an uptick of tips about suspicious activity.

The Department of Homeland Security warned Sunday of "hacktivists" and Iranian government-affiliated actors who routinely target poorly secured US networks and Internet-connected devices for disruptive cyberattacks.

When asked if we are prepared for such an attack, Stock said, "I think we are prepared only if we can all come together, and when we observe things, we let people know about it. People need to be aware and more hypervigilant about what's going on around them. If we stand together and stand vigilant, and everybody keeps their eyes open and ears to the ground, I think we will be fine."

"I have analysts working on continuity of government, cyber, critical infrastructure, and we are sending info out daily, sometimes hourly, to our partners," Stock continued.

Their analysts work with representatives from various departments, including Seattle Police, Seattle Fire, Washington State Patrol, and the F.B.I.

From late November until April 1, the Fusion Center received 10,000 tips about suspicious activity or unusual behavior. Stock guesses at the current rate, their team will hit 20,000 tips by the end of the year.

Their expertise also includes monitoring big events and working with private partners such as Lumen Field, which hosted another Club World Cup match Monday afternoon.

The Fusion Center even has an analyst dedicated to all FIFA events to make sure Seattle Police and Lumen Field security have the information they need. Stock said it's about keeping fans and players safe.

KOMO News reached out to Governor Bob Ferguson's Office about any potential threats.

They responded late Monday via email:

"On Sunday, the Washington State Adjutant General participated in a call with the FBI and DHS on behalf of Governor Ferguson. DHS has issued this security bulletin: National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin - June 22, 2025 | Homeland Security. The Governor’s Office, Washington State Military Department, State Patrol and Fusion Center are all in regular communication about any potential threats."

Tips can be sent to the Fusion Center by emailing [email protected] or by calling 1-877-843-9522.