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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a national terrorism bulletin on Wednesday warning of the continuing potential for violence by people motivated by government sentiment following Joe Biden’s election.
The bulletin suggests that the riot by a crowd of Donald Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 could encourage extremists and set the scene for additional attacks.
DHS did not cite any specific conspiracies, but pointed to an “increased threat environment in the United States” that he said would continue for several weeks.
It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins of the prospect of violence related to a specific event or date, such as the Fourth of July holiday. But this particular bulletin, issued by the National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable for putting the Biden government effectively in the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize and represent actions motivated by political ideology. that they see violence aimed at overthrowing the election. as similar to terrorism.
The wording of the document also suggests that national security officials see a connecting thread between recent violence in recent years, motivated by grievances against the government, including Covid-19 restrictions, the election results in 2020 and the use of police. It also singles out racially motivated acts of violence, such as the insurgency of Latinos in El Paso, Texas in 2019, as well as the threat of extremists motivated by foreign terrorist organizations.
“Information suggests that some ideologically motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of government authority and the presidential transition, as well as other allegations fueled by false narratives, may continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence,” he said. the bulletin said.
In a DHS statement accompanying the bulletin, the potential for violence is indicated by “a wide range of ideologically motivated actors”. It also took note of violent riots in ‘recent days’, an apparent reference to events in Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups.
“The domestic terror attack on our Capitol earlier this month shed light on a threat that has been in front of us for years,” said Congresswoman Bennie Thompson, a Democratic Mississippi, who chairs the House Security Committee. “I am pleased to see that DHS fully recognizes the threat of violent, right – wing extremists and is committed to transmitting the threat to the American people.”