U.S. faces terrorism threats from violent domestic extremists after the Capitol breach
The United States could face a heightened threat of domestic extremist violence for weeks from people motivated by anti-government after Donald Trump’s election defeat and the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Homeland Security warned on Wednesday.
“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,” the department said in a national terrorism advisory.
DHS said that it does not have any information to indicate a specific, credible plot, however, violent riots witnessed in recent days have raised concerns that individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors to incite or commit violence, the department said.
Acting DHS Security Secretary David Pekoske issued the 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 presidential inauguration.
More than 20,000 National Guard members were in the nation’s capital to help secure President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Biden’s inauguration. Officials have said about 5,000 troops will remain in Washington for the next few weeks.
“The January 6th assault on the Capitol and the tragic deaths and destruction that occurred underscored what we have long known: the rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat. The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
