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* From the US Department of Homeland Security…
Summary of Terrorism Threat to the United States
The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. Domestic actors and foreign terrorist organizations continue to maintain a visible presence online in attempts to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland. Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence, citing factors such as reactions to current events and adherence to violent extremist ideologies. In the coming months, threat actors could exploit several upcoming events to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the midterm elections, the holiday season and associated large gatherings, the marking of two years since the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and potential sociopolitical developments connected to ideological beliefs or personal hostility. Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, the LGBTQI+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents.
Duration
Issued: November 30, 2022 02:00 pm
Expires: May 24, 2023 02:00 pmAdditional Information
• Several recent attacks, plots, and threats of violence demonstrate the continued dynamic and complex nature of the threat environment in the United States.
• Some domestic violent extremists who have conducted attacks have cited previous attacks and attackers as inspiration. Following the late November shooting at an LGBTQI+ bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado—which remains under investigation—we have observed actors on forums known to post racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist content praising the alleged attacker. Similarly, some domestic violent extremists in the United States praised an October 2022 shooting at a LGBTQI+ bar in Slovakia and encouraged additional violence. The attacker in Slovakia posted a manifesto online espousing white supremacist beliefs and his admiration for prior attackers, including some within the United States.
• Recent incidents have highlighted the enduring threat to faith-based communities, including the Jewish community. In early November 2022, an individual in New Jersey was arrested for sharing a manifesto online that threatened attacks on synagogues. The individual admitted to writing the document, in which he claimed to be motivated by the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) and hatred towards Jewish people.
• While violence surrounding the November midterm elections was isolated, we remain vigilant that heightened political tensions in the country could contribute to individuals mobilizing to violence based on personalized grievances. Over the past few months we observed general calls for violence targeting elected officials, candidates, and ballot drop box locations.
o In October 2022 in San Francisco, California, an individual allegedly broke into the home of a Member of Congress and attacked their spouse with a hammer. The individual arrested for this crime was allegedly inspired by partisan grievances and conspiracy theories.
o Several elected officials, candidates, and political organizations received threatening letters with suspicious powders, which, while found not to be dangerous or toxic, were likely intended to target the political process. Voting for the midterm elections has concluded, but certifications for some elections will continue through December 2022, and some social media users have sought to justify the use of violence in response to perceptions that the midterm elections were fraudulent, citing technical difficulties at voting sites and delays in certifications.• Perceptions of government overreach continue to drive individuals to attempt to commit violence targeting government officials and law enforcement officers. In August 2022, an individual wearing body armor and armed with a firearm and a nail gun attempted to forcibly enter the Cincinnati, Ohio Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). When uniformed officers responded, the individual fled the scene, resulting in a pursuit and eventual shots fired by responding officers. In the days preceding the attack, the individual called on others to acquire weapons and kill federal law enforcement, claiming he felt he was fighting in a “civil war.”
• Some domestic violent extremists have expressed grievances based on perceptions that the government is overstepping its Constitutional authorities or failing to perform its duties. Historically, issues related to immigration and abortion have been cited by prior attackers as inspiration for violence. Potential changes in border security enforcement policy, an increase in noncitizens attempting to enter the U.S., or other immigration-related developments may heighten these calls for violence.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:03 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Eyeballs up!
Comment by USMC Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:16 am
Of course! When you have one side targeting minorities as well as constantly saying the election was rigged and stolen this is what you get. I’m really hopeful that we can avoid any violence here in Illinois. Even among the far right candidates who lost *cough* Devore and Bailey *cough* it’s seems like they’ve done so…”gracefully*”
*This word being used in comparison to people like Kari Lake in Arizona.
Comment by Midwest Progressive Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:17 am
=An illegal alien from Canada allegedly did this.=
Your point?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:18 am
@Steve
Not sure what you’re implying there but I’m pretty sure that Speaker Pelosi was the intended target…in the guys own words. But go ahead and keep pointing out he was an “illegal alien from Canada” to score those cheap political talking points.
Comment by Midwest Progressive Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:19 am
=== =An illegal alien from Canada allegedly did this.=
Your point?===
I’ve yet to read anywhere the alleged assailant was a Canadian illegal alien.
Where did you see this?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:20 am
Violence motivated (in whole or in part) by hateful and/or violent ideologies or belief systems and carried out by lone actors or individuals acting alone and supported from afar by others through social media (information on bomb-making, tactics, encouragement, etc) is nothing new to America. We’ve been too slow to recognize it and address it. In many instances, we over-legislate criminal laws, but in this area, we haven’t done enough on the federal and state level.
Comment by Luke Steele Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:21 am
- Steve - trolls, and has spammed odd things here before, and even had questionable thoughts to racism….
So I ask again, where is this Canadian aspect, as the DOJ press release makes no mention of this Canadian aspect you want pushed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:24 am
==Where did you see this?==
It was in the “We Are Not Responsible for the Consequences of Our Actions” newsfeed.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:24 am
===Where did you see this? ===
Don’t feed the red herring trolls.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:27 am
“government is overstepping its Constitutional authorities”
Aka we get to pick and choose which rules and laws apply to us.
“or failing to perform its duties”
Aka not enough law and order for the people we don’t like.
That’s true elitism and privilege.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:31 am
===Don’t feed the red herring trolls.===
I did it.
I was wrong.
Sorry, Rich.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:37 am
The most important thing is to understand that some people are so deeply embedded in their fantasy echo chamber that reality has zero chance of penetrating the fog.
Comment by former southerner Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 9:56 am
- Bored Chairman -
I found it, before your comment, thanks.
I’m following Rich’s ask
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 10:04 am
Threats made to poll workers is what gets me. Shameful.
Comment by low level Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 10:17 am
So display a menorah or not? Rules are if there is persecution, don’t display it. Dispute is does that mean persecution anywhere in the world (so are we to keep it private in solidarity with our persecuted co-religionists worldwide) or does it mean locally (so self-protection, which has applied sometimes and sometimes not in US history)
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 10:20 am
A Trumpkin led low grade insurgency isn’t out of the realm of possibility at this point.
Comment by Glengarry Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 10:53 am
It’s truly terrifying that this has to be issued. The USA is a beacon of freedom to the world and we are targeted by those from the outside for our views. That we are also targeted from the inside by small minded lovers of their own kind of theocracy is terrifying.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 11:13 am
The city of Chicago just issued an alert that City Hall is closed tomorrow (Friday) for a public safety exercise. Wonder if this is proactive, reactive (to the HS notice) or both?
Comment by Marine Life Thursday, Dec 1, 22 @ 3:18 pm