Locals Worry About Potential Retaliation After U.S. Attacks on Iran

Law enforcement officials say they are working closely to be ready for any potential threats.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The conflict in Iran is weighing on some people locally who are worried about potential retaliation. The FBI says it has moved its counterterrorism and intelligence teams to 'high alert.' Law enforcement officials say they are working very closely at all levels to be ready for any sort of retaliation, but what a potential threat looks like is what makes planning very difficult.

Why it matters

The attacks in Iran are happening thousands of miles away from home, but there is a local impact as residents in Boston and the surrounding area express concerns about potential retaliation. Law enforcement is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to protect the local community.

The details

Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said local, state and federal law enforcement quickly moved into a high state of readiness in the wake of the attacks, with the FBI saying it remains 'at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home.' Davis said coordination happens locally in the Commonwealth Fusion Center and Boston Regional Intelligence Center, and one potential retaliation could be a cyberattack on power grids, financial institutions, and hospitals.

  • The FBI moved its counterterrorism and intelligence teams to 'high alert' following the attacks in Iran.

The players

Ed Davis

Former Boston Police Commissioner who said law enforcement is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to protect the local community.

Keisha Shirley

A South Boston resident who said "Everyone should be scared right now, to be honest. That just came out of nowhere."

Angela Brocco

A South Boston resident who said "I would say if there was an attack, they would do New York before Boston."

Stephen Lynch

Democratic Congressman who said he is especially concerned that the end game is not clearly known right now.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone should be scared right now, to be honest. That just came out of nowhere.”

— Keisha Shirley

“I would say if there was an attack, they would do New York before Boston.”

— Angela Brocco

“The first couple of weeks are very dangerous. After that, we get into a more steady state, but we have to see how they come at us or hopefully not.”

— Ed Davis, Former Boston Police Commissioner

“I worry about the lone wolf type actor who comes forward and wants to do harm to ordinary citizens, so we have a responsibility to protect them as well. What the timeline is, what is the level of resources that the president is asking in terms of taxpayer dollars to commit to this?”

— Stephen Lynch, Democratic Congressman

What’s next

Law enforcement officials say they will be closely monitoring the situation over the next few days as the first couple of weeks are seen as the most dangerous period.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges local communities face in preparing for potential retaliation from conflicts happening far away, as law enforcement works to coordinate efforts and gather intelligence to protect residents while the long-term implications of the attacks remain uncertain.