ISIS hit list names include 1,700 individual churchgoers, Jewish worshippers in U.S. labelled as 'crusaders'

A police surveillance video shows Muslim gunman Edward Archer firing at Philadelphia Police Officer Jesse Hartnett inside his patrol car. (Philadelphia Police Department)

If you can't beat them, scare them.

This appears to be the new tactic of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group as it released a new list of 1,700 American individuals, including churchgoers and Jewish worshippers, branding them as "crusaders" and kill targets for its "lone-wolf" supporters, Newsweek reports.

The list was discovered by jihadi monitoring service SITE Intelligence and was published and circulated on July 3 by ISIS sympathisers in online forums.

The discovery caused such a scare that it forced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to give security briefings to religious leaders.

Among those rattled by the new ISIS hit list were members of the American Jewish community. The Secure Community Network (SCN), the community's security wing, quickly hosted a conference call after finding out that among those marked for death by ISIS were some 200 Jewish community leaders and Homeland Security officials.

"The lists appear to be directed toward 'lone wolf' ISIL supporters who may be inspired to carry out attacks," SCN said in a statement, using another acronym for ISIS.

The group noted though that so far "there have been no reported incidents to date in which an ISIL-inspired individual has carried out an attack on any individual appearing on these lists."

Marking certain individuals for death is nothing new for ISIS. In recent months, it released a series of hit list of American individuals apparently intended to sow fear among the U.S. population. In May, ISIS's cyber-wing dumped the details of 3,000 New Yorkers, forcing the state police and FBI to warn all residents included in the list.

The terrorist group then released the names of 800 members of the Arkansas Library Association, whose personal files ISIS hackers were able to breach.

Together with the hit-list releases, ISIS also publishes orders directing "lone wolf" supporters to target identified individuals, categorising them as "crusaders."

While ISIS hackers had little trouble in obtaining the addresses, phone numbers and names of individuals whose personal files are listed in public bodies, they have shown that they also have the capability to infiltrate supposedly highly secured targets such as the files of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Director of the CIA John Brennan and even presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as other military, governmental and diplomatic officials, according to Newsweek. ISIS has published and circulated the data it obtained from these personalities.

related articles
ISIS triggerman-spy turns follower of Jesus: \'I hate those people and they show me love\'
ISIS triggerman-spy turns follower of Jesus: 'I hate those people and they show me love'

ISIS triggerman-spy turns follower of Jesus: 'I hate those people and they show me love'

\'The Girl Who Beat ISIS\': New book tells harrowing account of how a brave Yazidi teen escaped from the jihadists\' lair
'The Girl Who Beat ISIS': New book tells harrowing account of how a brave Yazidi teen escaped from the jihadists' lair

'The Girl Who Beat ISIS': New book tells harrowing account of how a brave Yazidi teen escaped from the jihadists' lair

Former Arafat aide and Palestinian sniper turned Christ follower explores \'The Mind of Terror\'
Former Arafat aide and Palestinian sniper turned Christ follower explores 'The Mind of Terror'

Former Arafat aide and Palestinian sniper turned Christ follower explores 'The Mind of Terror'

Fear of being called \'crusader army\' stops U.S. from helping Christians in Iraq and Syria, says leading rights lawyer
Fear of being called 'crusader army' stops U.S. from helping Christians in Iraq and Syria, says leading rights lawyer

Fear of being called 'crusader army' stops U.S. from helping Christians in Iraq and Syria, says leading rights lawyer

ISIS real name revealed: Expert explains apocalyptic word that\'s drawing Muslims to terror group\'s cause
ISIS real name revealed: Expert explains apocalyptic word that's drawing Muslims to terror group's cause

ISIS real name revealed: Expert explains apocalyptic word that's drawing Muslims to terror group's cause

News
Texas holds day of prayer in wake of devastating flash floods
Texas holds day of prayer in wake of devastating flash floods

A day of prayer was observed across Texas on Sunday as the state continues to respond to devastating flash floods that have killed dozens, including a number of children who were attending a Christian summer camp. 

Is a 'quiet revival' really taking place? Shock new study findings suggest Christianity may be in retreat
Is a 'quiet revival' really taking place? Shock new study findings suggest Christianity may be in retreat

The challenge before the Christian Church is both stark and clear: to understand and engage a new generation if it is to have a future. 

What was the Welsh Revival and why should you know about it?
What was the Welsh Revival and why should you know about it?

The Welsh Revival of 1904 was anything but quiet, leading to the worldwide Pentecostal and charismatic movements. This is the story …

Church bombing in Syria is 'not sectarian conflict but persecution'
Church bombing in Syria is 'not sectarian conflict but persecution'

A deadly suicide bombing at a Damascus church on Sunday June 22 has reignited urgent calls for global recognition of the ongoing persecution of Syria’s religious minorities.