Last Wednesday, a Brisbane man, Hoani Hearne, bit into a strawberry purchased at a local market and discovered a sewing needle. Since that first incident, pins and needles have been discovered in a range of fruits including six different brands of strawberries, bananas and apples in more than 20 different cities across Australia. Needless to say, fresh fruit sales across the country have plummeted and law enforcement is scrambling to find the original culprits, as well as discourage copycat incidents.

This afternoon, Islamic State social media accounts began widespread sharing of more than a half dozen propaganda posters capitalizing on the fears and inciting other followers to employ the same tactic.

US food safety authorities are now on high alert out of fear of the trend reaching the U.S..

ALERTSUSA STRONGLY ENCOURAGES SUBSCRIBERS TO CLOSELY INSPECT FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PURCHASED IN HIGH TRAFFIC MARKETS AND GROCERY STORES AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.

We will have more on this story in this weekend's issue of the Threat Journal newsletter.

Three of the Islamic State posters in circulation are shown below.