Federal authorities say they are monitoring ‘Joker’ social media threats

Federal authorities are monitoring and warning law enforcement about threatening social media posts linked to the release of the new “Joker” film, a law enforcement official confirmed to The Hill. 

“While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is in touch with our law enforcement and private sector partners about the online posts,” an FBI spokesperson confirmed to The Hill. “As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

The warning came in a joint FBI and Department of Homeland Security bulletin, although there is no specific or credible threat against a specific theater, USA Today reported.

Several movie theaters have banned masks at screenings of the “Joker” film, which focuses on the violent rise of Batman’s nemesis. 

{mosads} The movie has raised concerns following the 2012 mass shooting at a Colorado screening of the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises,” which left 12 dead and 70 wounded.

The New York Police Department will reportedly station undercover police in screenings of the film, although a spokesperson confirmed to The Hill that they have also not received any “specific or credible threats.”

Last week, the U.S. military warned service members of the potential for a mass shooting at showings replicating the 2012 attack, according to notices from the Army.

“Posts on social media have made reference to involuntary celibate (‘incel’) extremists replicating” the shooting “at screenings of the Joker movie at nationwide theaters,” according to the notice from Army Materiel Command, which was sent to service members in an email last month, Gizmodo first reported.

Another memo sent by the Army’s criminal investigation arm said a “credible” threat has been identified by the sheriff’s office in Travis County, Texas. The offices, working with the FBI, “discovered disturbing and very specific chatter in the dark web regarding the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the Joker release,” according to the memo.