WASHINGTON (AP) – The Department of Homeland Security has issued a national terrorism bulletin Warning on Wednesday of the potential for continued violence from people prompted by anti-government sentiment following President Joe Biden’s election, suggesting the January 6 riot at the Capitol could encourage extremists and pave the way for additional attacks.
The department did not identify a specific threat, but pointed to “an increased threat environment in the United States” that it said “will persist” since Biden took office on Jan. 20.
“Information suggests that some ideologically motivated violent extremists who object 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 bulletin said. .
It did not mention ideological or political beliefs, but instead warned more broadly against “individuals frustrated with the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other alleged grievances and ideological causes fueled by false narratives.”
These individuals, DHS said, “could continue to mobilize a wide variety of ideologically motivated actors to incite or commit violence.
It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement officers through bulletins and advisory reports about the prospect of violence related to a particular date or event, such as July 4.
But this particular bulletin, released through the department’s National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable for effectively placing the Biden administration into the politically charged debate about how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence that aimed at election as terrorism.
The wording of the one-page document suggests that national security officials see a common thread between recent violence of the past year, motivated by grievances against the government, be it COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results or the use of violence by the police. It also cites racially motivated acts of violence, such as the 2019 rage against Hispanics in Texas, as well as the threat from extremists motivated by foreign terrorist organizations.
The warning comes at a tense moment after the riot in the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who tried to reverse the presidential election. The DHS also notes violent riots in “the last few days,” a clear reference to events in Portland, Oregon associated with anarchist groups.
The warning was issued by acting Secretary of Homeland Security David Pekoske. Biden’s candidate for the cabinet post, Alejandro Mayorkas, has not been confirmed by the Senate.