U.S. intelligence agencies consider domestic terrorist activity a “elevated risk” to the country in 2021. They have released a joint report predicting that political and social factors, including the coronavirus pandemic, and the “emboldening effect of the violent breach at the U.S Capitol,” will “almost certainly” encourage domestic violent extremists into further violence.
Wednesday’s unclassified summary of a joint assessment of the national threat posed domestic violent extremism was released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The President Biden requested the comprehensive threat assessment from ODNI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security for the White House. It was prepared in response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
According to an ODNI official, the full classified report – which was described by an ODNI representative as a “fact-based assessment” that could inform strategy and policy development – was sent Tuesday to Congress.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also received the report on the same day that domestic violent extremism was called the “greatest and most persistent threat” to the homeland.
“Newer sociopolitical development — such as narratives about fraud in the recent general elections, the emboldening effect of the violent breach at the US Capitol and conditions related to COVID-19 pandemic and conspiracy theories promoting violent behavior — will almost certainly incite some (domestic violence extremists), to try to engage violence this year,” the unclassified summary states.
The report divides domestic violent extremists in to different groups including anti-government extremists (racially and ethnically motivated), anti-government extremists as well as animal rights and environmental extremists. It also includes abortion-related extremists.
Intelligence agencies discovered that militia violent extremists and racially-motivated violent extremists were the “most deadly threats.” According to an unclassified summary, racially motivated extremists were found to be most likely to cause mass-casualty attack against civilians. The threat assessment however found that militia violent extremists often target government personnel and facilities and law enforcement.
The unclassified summary showed that white supremacists created networks of support outside the U.S. in certain cases. Additionally, a small number have traveled abroad to “network” with like-minded people.
As emerging platforms for recruiting, planning, and dissemination of material that can ultimately lead to violence, social media platforms (including smaller websites and encrypted chat apps) were identified.
It was also found that domestic violent extremists who are “lone offenders” (or small cells) of different ideologies are more likely than those who adhere to a particular ideology to commit violent attacks.
Mayorkas, who appeared before Congress Tuesday, warned that lone-wolf extremists who express “loose affiliation” with ideologies like hate and extremism will “willingly execute on them in illegal, violent, and illegal ways.”
According to an ODNI official the entire classified assessment was coordinated within intelligence and law enforcement. The source of information included government and non-governmental organisations, as deemed necessary.
Adam Schiff, Democrat from California, is Chairman of House Intelligence. He highlighted in a statement that the “transnational element” to domestic violent extremism was present.
He said that “the threat of white nationalism has become a global phenomenon.”
Schiff called Wednesday’s assessment “a positive first step”, but asked intelligence agencies to release additional details, as required by Congress. This includes “specific information about incidents, investigations and prosecutions, analysis prioritization, personnel, and resources.”
According to an ODNI official the entire classified assessment was coordinated within intelligence and law enforcement. The source of information included government and non-governmental organisations, as deemed necessary.
Olivia Gazis contributed to the report.
