The Department of Homeland Security issued a domestic terrorism alert cautioning the public of potential attacks from “violent extremists.”
“The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration,” the Wednesday bulletin read. “Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.”
DHS added that some of the “extremists” were bred through “anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force.” The agency also cited the potential for threats to arise from “racial and ethnic tension.”
The bulletin follows the Jan. 6 riot that saw thousands of protesters clash with law enforcement and eventually breach the Capitol in a bid to interrupt the certification of President Biden’s election victory. Five people died, one of whom was a law enforcement officer.
More than 100 people were arrested in the aftermath of the siege, and federal authorities have opened over 400 subject case files, more than 150 cases with federal charges. Prosecutors have also weighed the possibility of upping certain charges to more serious felonies such as sedition and conspiracy.
Thousands of National Guardsmen were subsequently deployed to the Capitol in response to the violence and numerous threats in order to secure the inauguration of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The unrest sparked talks within Congress to adopt the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which would create “dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism.” The bill was passed by the House in September of 2020.
The FBI previously warned the public about looming threats of domestic terrorism, particularly about the “boogaloo movement,” which seeks a “politically motivated civil war” in order to overthrow the government.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske issued Wednesday’s alert. Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s nominee for the position, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
“DHS remains committed to preventing violence and threats meant to intimidate or coerce specific populations on the basis of their religion, race, ethnicity, identity or political views. DHS encourages state, local, tribal, and territorial homeland security partners to continue prioritizing physical security measures, particularly around government facilities, to protect people and critical infrastructure,” the bulletin concluded.
