“…Thousands upon thousands of hard-core Al-Qaeda extremists have poured across our borders. These people will fight to the death for their belief. These individuals are trained, committed, and willing to die for their cause. Their goal is to overwhelm first responders, sow confusion, and shatter public confidence. They will operate using highly trained small team tactics. They will assault simultaneously on multiple targets and set up to devastate first responders as they arrive to help…”

Benton County MO Sheriff’s Office
October 27 [2025] at 1:44 PM

Hello Benton County, it’s been a while since I last wrote to you. It’s business as usual with your sheriff’s office. I hope you are getting value from the postings of our arrest report. We have always posted it in our local papers, but I chose to also post on social media to make it more convenient for you.
I’m writing to you today about a very important issue that has come to my attention through contacts developed over the years I have been in office. These contacts led me to more information that I feel compelled to share with you.

I saw a short segment on one of the news channels relating to this issue. Some of you will agree with me that it’s just common sense because of our past open borders, but it’s more than a brief mention on the news or common sense.

Whether we want to admit it or not, terrorism is no longer a distant problem confined to large cities or foreign soil. It’s coming to small-town America and very likely within the next 24 months. Thousands of hardened extremists have crossed our borders, loyal to ideologies that thrive on destruction, chaos, and fear. Their mission is simple, to cripple America from within by attacking our most trusted places including hospitals, schools, churches, sheriff’s offices, police and fire stations, fairs, ball games, and other community gatherings that represent freedom and faith. They will strike where we feel safest and when we least expect it.

Thousands upon thousands of hard-core Al-Qaeda extremists have poured across our borders. These people will fight to the death for their belief. These individuals are trained, committed, and willing to die for their cause. Their goal is to overwhelm first responders, sow confusion, and shatter public confidence. They will operate using highly trained small team tactics. They will assault simultaneously on multiple targets and set up to devastate first responders as they arrive to help.

As Americans, and especially as citizens of rural communities like ours, we cannot afford to assume “it won’t happen here.” Vigilance is not paranoia, it’s responsibility. Pay attention to your surroundings. Report what doesn’t look right. Support those who stand ready to protect you. The greatest defense against terrorism is a community that refuses to ignore reality.

You are all intelligent free-thinking people. It is not my intention to cause you any anxiety or to change your mind about going to a public event. That is exactly what the terrorist wants! What I want you to do is be aware of your surroundings! The Constitution’s 2nd amendment guarantees your right to bear arms and as your Sheriff, I encourage you to do so, if you have not already. Talk to your families about a plan if something terrible should happen. What would do you do? Where would you go? Do You have food and water to sustain yourselves if the power goes out for weeks at a time?

Visit among yourselves, talk to your neighbors and seek out those folks who have combat experience. Especially those who have extensive training like special forces. Have a plan! Please do not wait until some tragedy falls upon us to prepare. It’s too late at that point.

Sheriff Knox

There was much hilarity on the responses:

You could choose to give Ready In Three advice for winter storms / power outages and tornados without the over the top made up fantasy of Arab terrorist. No evidence to support your claims of terrorist coming to the US since 2001. Then they flew in 1st class coming as students on student visas.
The community has plenty of guns. If you think you need to give advice on intruder protection. Lighting, fences, dogs, cameras, outdoor siren, cutting vegitation, secure windows and doors. Last line of defense is a short pump shot gun only used once a door or window is breached.
Please do not encourage carrying guns on the street. Legal but not a good idea.

Hmmmm…..
Went down that 0rabbit hole, huh?

You freaking nutbar

Look out for the “boogie man”

total WMD vibes

We see what you did there.

You sure about that duckling dynasty? Are you and the other members of your family wreath going to “save the community” from having any non mayo people around? Just because sheriff Cletus Sisterbanger said “theys is bad and wanna ruin our ball game and the fair”.

isn’t it super exhausting being afraid of everything all the time?

==========

i would love to see sources for your information.

He doesn’t have any! MAGATS NEVER do!!! 😂😂😂

oh i know. 😅😅

InfoWars? 4Chan?

Give him a little credit. Discord maybe?

==========

Al-Qaeda? Is this 2003?

No one told him they updated the boogeyman to Mexicans now lmaooo

exactly! The Qatar connection made by the current regime will bring terrorists in, heck, we will be training them! 🙈🙈🙈🙈

sources: FOX, Newsmax, untreated mental illness, probably crack.

Meth, definitely Meth, it’s Missouri.

right-wing memes.

cool story. Anyhow, Epstein.

100% this. Right-wing memes and disappointed QAnon morons.

why don’t you just admit that you made it up. Trump makes up things all the time too

pillow man news

this is so meth’d up!

MyPillowTv

there aren’t any. Fear mongering of this flavor never has sources.

They’re all in his head.

I’ll take “things that never happened” for $200

I’ll take misinformation, disinformation, lies and propaganda for $1000 Alex.

==========

Maybe if a lot of you were on the front lines you might understand his precautions. I don’t know Eric Knox however Im sure he knows and has seen reasons to be aware – My friends in law enforcement (not from Benton County) have expressed similar concerns. Will it hurt to be more concerned and aware ?? If your county has a local crime app – check it out – it’s not just immigrants. I live rural, drugs and theft during the past 6 months is shocking!!

here’s a hint: al-Qaeda isn’t selling drugs and stealing packages off your porch.

front lines???? Is the sky falling, again?

“front lines”. 🤣

I was on the front lines. This guy is full of 💩

“ackshuwallly what if the race baters are right, you don’t know” isn’t the stellar argument you think it is, hey?

If you can’t see this for what it is, which is xenophobia and fear mongering, you’re just as dumb as the sheriff.

youre the reason why voting should require an IQ test.

==========

Yea. So people are traveling 1000s of miles. Leaving family ans friends behind so that they can get to your podunk town and steal packages and take drugs.
HINT The criminals in your area are home grown.

I thought the big, strong, mango Mussolini was gonna magically make be crime disappear

So why isn’t the FBI or state police issuing the warning if they have information of an attack being “very likely”? Our county sheriff has more information than they do?

I was a terrorist once. Then I got my license plate light fixed. After that I don’t get pulled over and given the 20 questions routine over a small, but very scary light bulb. So get your lights fixed everyone!

Paranoia is dangerous, and that’s exactly what they’re stoking with this nonsense.

Being prepared is fine. Being scared is another. This is designed to promote fear by spreading misinformation. Not fine.

Go hide in your bunker

The threat is ICE and the white supremacist on our soil!

the point is to make you fear people around you, other Americans, and anyone else. Dividing people is how they can more easily manipulate people.

Not the most professional post I’ve read from a sheriff before, but certainly entertaining!

it’s scapegoating & fear mongering . The biggest domestic terror threat is from white right wingers. All the data backs this up, but some people prefer to ignore facts in order to believe the “ alternative facts” that make them feel that they’re right & better than the “ others.”

Be vewy afraid of what doesn’t look like you.

Could you share examples of what to look for that “doesn’t look right”?

[….] the jokes are a serious response. Why is this sherrif stoking fear about immigrant terrorists when the majority of domestic terrorism is committed by far right white dudes born in America?
If he has a serious, non-racist list of criteria for what “doesn’t look right” why doesn’t he bother saying that, instead of just leaving it up to people to fill in the blanks. Because the way he did it, works great for racists, and provides no useful information to people who actually want to help.

Let me guess- the answer is “brown people”

Brown people. He just means brown people.

Anyone who doesn’t look like them….that’s why small towns are dying

men with masks who refuse to identify themselves!

Concerning post. Is the Sheriff Okay???🥹

It’s true. Terrorists have been abducting people and taking them away to hidden camps, sometimes never to be seen again. They wear masks and carry guns. If you see them you should use whatever force necessary to defend yourself and your neighbors. They stopped calling themselves ISIS and now they just call themselves ICE.

Someone broke into the evidence locker stash.

Somebody check on this guy, he may be having some sort of episode.

==========

I have seen more confederate flags flying in Benton County than anywhere I have ever been. That doesn’t make me feel safe.

educate yourself then and understand the true meaning of the confederate flag, or MOVE?

I don’t live there! I am quite clear what the confederate flag stands for!
It is seen as a symbol of racism, slavery, and white supremacy.
It is oppressive to blacks. I wouldn’t be proud waving a flag that has an ambience of racism and negativity.

The only Confederate flag that ever mattered was a white rag on a stick.

===========

The call is coming from inside the house.

Some body is wired a little too tight.

I too like to make things up in my head and post about them online..🤡

It seems someone has been sniffing glue in their free time 🙄

One of the news stations eh? Which one? Specifically.

this has to be satire 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Apparently not.

Paranoid much ?

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read.

Contacts = youtube conspiracy theorists

These comments are 🤌🏻

How not to sheriff 101

Is al quaeda in the room with us?

This is satire?

==========

This is not joke people! Take him seriously!🤦‍♀️

You’re right, this isn’t a joke. That’s what makes it so much worse. A public official shouldn’t be fearmongering and sharing false claims. Al-Qaeda is 1000% unaware that Benton County, Missouri even exists. Even if they did, they’re not sending roving guerrilla death squads to rural America. That’s what we did in their country, and look how that worked out for us.

thousands of members of al qaeda have not infiltrated small towns in America, [….]. Dont believe everything you read online

no, it’s not a joke. It’s race-baiting and fear mongering, and it should be taken seriously. It’s the same b.s. excuse the U.S. has been using to dehumanize and abuse people for it’s entire history and it’s beyond old. The fact people keep believing this b.s. is what’s shocking. They’ve been saying this exact same thing since 9/11, 24 years ago. They love fear mongering about terrorism so much they gave Los Angeles SCHOOL Police GRENADE LAUNCHERS ffs.
What should be taken seriously is that the majority of terrorism in the U.S. is committed by far right, american born, white dudes.

it’s not the subject, but the verifiability and lack of common sense that makes us laugh. Authority figures with power trips always think they have the best answers for everyone.

==========

This guy probably has Red Dawn playing on a loop somewhere.

wolverines!!!!!!

cuckoo for Coco cops..

Watch out for home grown terrorism too. That seems to be more of a threat presently.

I think somebody’s cheese slid off their cracker 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I can’t believe how many people are laughing at this post 😢

Question: How exactly do we tell them apart from ICE agents? Signed, Confused.

Are they in the room with you right now?

You sound special.

More like Y’all Queda.

I literally thought this wasn’t a real page. I thought it was satire. I mean, it is. Just not intentionally.

They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the dogs.

OMG I can’t believe this is “law enforcement” 🤯😂

I think he’s talking about what the Constitution called a well-armed militia. At this moment in time I don’t feel the national guard is the well-armed militia that supposed to be able to defend their communities. I don’t advocate violence but then I never thought I’d have to plan my defense in my own country. The national guard is not our well-armed de militia apparently it’s just another thumb of the federal government and we by the Constitution are entitled to organizations in our community that are trained to defend it.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Well regulated. Stay awake in school, kids.

Seems like he’s warning us about ICE.

Are these “Thousands of hardened extremists” in the room with you now?

In your wisdom, dear Sheriff, would you recommend keeping a gun under my pillow? You know – in case there is a boogeyman under my bed? Or should I just call you to come save me? What’s the number I should call to get your urgent attention? Do you have a direct 24 hour line? I just know you’re the only person I can trust! So big and brave. By the way, my neighbor has been acting strangely. I will be in your office with my report tomorrow.

Uh….

I hear ICE is hiring.

Simmer down, now, Jethro, it ain’t as bad as all that. 🤣🤣🤣

Surely there are millions if not billions of terrorists whose primary goal is to take over Benton County, MO 😂

ICE is the only terrorist group I’ve heard of lately.

The Bible commands us to not bear false witness.

I personally think any sort of information about threats to the community should be based in facts or data and not fear mongering. As a public official, you have a responsibility to be careful and methodical with your words so as not to cause a panic. I don’t think repeating something that you heard on a news channel without anything solid to back it up meets that standard.

Wow. I didn’t realize MO had such a meth problem. Paranoia will destroya

Please seek psychiatric help.

I believe the call is coming from inside the house. Terrorists in American still tend to be white males. School and church shootings, again white males. Iran threatened our current president and John Bolton after the killing of Soleimani during his last term office. Then a young white American citizen tried to assassinated him during a pre-election rally. Are we sure that this isn’t just a PTSD from the current administration??
It would be great if the administration that calls itself transparent was sharing who they are catching and deporting. Even if they had special arrest briefings of cells that they have captured. Instead they are attempting to say that Anti-Facist aka people against facists are some type of enemy.
Now we are a country of shooting boats in international waters, calling peaceful American citizens who protest, terrorists.
We lived through, ‘they are eating the cats and the dogs…’ and that was a blatant lie…and a cruel one. Let’s try to walk like Jesus, and love the neighbor (the foreigner) who in not like us. If there is a real problem, or something suspect, it will be easier to see through a Jesus loving lense.
I like and appreciate the arrest reports on FB, it does make it easier to follow. Thank you.

Imagine being this stupid and then announcing it to the world on Facebook

I saw sasquatch stealing beef jerky from Wal-Mart.

This message reads more like fear mongering than public safety communication. There’s a big difference between awareness and panic, and this kind of language only spreads unnecessary fear.

You could have suggested preparedness without the taint of racism. In fact, your own words promote stochastic terrorism. I guarantee there are people in your county who are susceptible to being radicalized by right wing propaganda like this.

Fear mongering much? Lots of Al Qaeda on the streets of Benton? Please, share ur Al Qaeda experiences with us. 🙄

I hesitate to ask for sources because that seems to be subjective to the reader these days. I am so disappointed that you are using public office to stoke fear and racism in your county. Why 24 months? Who are these anonymous “contacts?” You are encouraging people to pull a trigger when they think something doesn’t seem right, pointed at people of color. You can say it’s not your intention to cause anxiety, but that doesn’t make it true because the rest of your post says otherwise. You know you’re doing wrong, and your words prevent people of color, immigrants, and people who worship differently from you from feeling safe in your community. Isn’t that the opposite of what you want? I hope you find it within your heart to become a better leader.

What in the Billy Bob did I just read?

And, a final response:

Benton County Missouri Democrats
October 28 at 5:41 PM

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the Sheriff and what a message to return with – a sweeping, fear-driven warning that thousands of Al-Qaeda extremists are supposedly roaming small-town America, ready to strike our schools, churches, and fairs.
This is reckless fearmongering.

There is no credible evidence that thousands of trained foreign extremists have crossed our borders and embedded themselves in rural Missouri. If such a threat existed, it would be front-page news, not a vague reference to a “short segment” on an unnamed news channel. This kind of rhetoric doesn’t make us safer – it distracts from real issues facing our communities: underfunded emergency services, underfunded schools & lack of mental health support.
We deserve better than conspiracy-laced hypotheticals and calls to militarize our neighborhoods. We deserve facts. And we deserve leadership that strengthens community bonds instead of sowing panic.

Yes, rural communities like ours are resilient. We know how to look out for each other. But that strength doesn’t come from paranoia – it comes from connection, compassion, and clear-eyed planning rooted in reality. If the Sheriff wants to talk about preparedness, let’s talk about disaster response funding, community health infrastructure, and ensuring every household has access to reliable information – not vague calls to “seek out special forces veterans” and stockpile supplies.

Let’s reject the politics of fear and recommit to the values that actually keep Benton County strong: truth, accountability, and unity.