Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin on Friday that says as the Covid-19 virus restrictions diminish, another threat looms: “The United States is facing threats that have evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile.” These threats are posed by “domestic terrorists, individuals, and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences.”
Because restrictions are lifting on people’s movement, there are now more opportunities for bad actors to carry out their plans to harm the country, DHS says.
Specifically, the DHS says:
- Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of Covid-19-related restrictions across the country to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks.
- Historically, mass-casualty Domestic Violent Extremist attacks linked to racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists have targeted houses of worship and crowded commercial facilities or gatherings. Some extremists advocate via social media and online platforms for a race war and have stated that civil disorder provides opportunities to engage in violence in furtherance of ideological objectives.
- Through 2020 and into 2021, government facilities and personnel have been common targets of domestic violent extremists, and opportunistic violent criminals are likely to exploit constitutionally protected freedom of speech activity linked to racial justice grievances and police use of force concerns, potentially targeting protestors perceived to be ideological opponents.
- Ideologically motivated violent extremists fueled by perceived grievances, false narratives, and conspiracy theories continue to share information online with the intent to incite violence. Online narratives across sites known to be frequented by individuals who hold violent extremist ideologies have called for violence against elected officials, political representatives, government facilities, law enforcement, religious or commercial facilities, and perceived ideologically-opposed individuals.
- The use of encrypted messaging by lone offenders and small violent extremist cells may obscure operational indicators that provide specific warning of a pending act of violence.
- Messaging from foreign terrorist organizations, including al-Qa‘ida and ISIS, intended to inspire U.S.-based homegrown violent extremists continues to amplify narratives related to exploiting protests. HVEs, who have typically conducted attacks against soft targets, mass gatherings, and law enforcement, remain a threat to the Homeland.
- Nation-state adversaries have increased efforts to sow discord. For example, Russian, Chinese and Iranian government-linked media outlets have repeatedly amplified conspiracy theories concerning the origins of COVID-19 and effectiveness of vaccines; in some cases, amplifying calls for violence targeting persons of Asian descent.
- DHS encourages law enforcement and homeland security partners to be alert to these developments and prepared for any effects to public safety. Consistent with applicable law, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement organizations should maintain situational awareness of online and physical activities that may be related to an evolving threat of violence.
“Today’s terrorism-related threat landscape is more complex, more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago. We know that providing timely and useful information to the public is critical as we all work together to secure the homeland. With the issuance of today’s NTAS Bulletin, we are advising the public to be vigilant about ongoing threats to the United States, including those posed by domestic terrorism, grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “In this evolving threat environment, DHS is redoubling our efforts to detect and disrupt all forms of foreign and domestic terrorism and targeted violence, while safeguarding privacy protections, civil rights, and civil liberties.”
DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will continue to provide guidance to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners about the current threat environment. DHS is collaborating with industry partners to identify and respond to the radicalization that results from the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and false narratives on social media and other online platforms, the department said, adding that it has no any information to indicate a specific, credible plot; “however, DHS asks all Americans to report any suspicious activity and threats of violence to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or a local Fusion Center.”
Fusion centers are cooperative functions between state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Alaska fusion center is called the Alaska Criminal Intelligence Center and can be reached at 907-269-8900 / 855-692-5425.
DHS has also established a new, dedicated domestic terrorism branch within the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis and is increasing training opportunities for law enforcement partners, including through threat assessment and management programs related to domestic violent extremism.
Look over there at the nearly non-existent white right wing terrorist threat. Focus that way while the real left wing Antifa/BLM/Ivan Moore burn the cities down. But the danger is really Joe Football drinking his beer while watching the game on Sunday. Right.
Yes sir, mon commandant.
“however, DHS asks all Americans to report any suspicious activity and threats of violence to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or a local Fusion Center.”
Why bother? So many terrorists and mass shooters have been reported to the FBI before they carried out their attacks. The FBI never does anything with the information, and the attacks happen.
If there is a case of the FBI preventing a terrorist attacks, it always turns out the attack was the FBI informant’s idea. The Whitmer plot last year is an example of this.
I was wondering what fear mongering issue they would use to try and replace the Covid mandates. Now I know.
Great! DHS is finally planning on going after the terrorist organizations of BLM and ANTIFA.
The head of DHS is a racist and he works for the administration leading the chard to allow people to inflict violence on others with no repurcussions.
Somebody had fun creating a lot of left-rotating names in bureaucratese. We’ve heard spin like this before: “somebody did something”, “bad actors” – can’t we just call them criminal thugs? “Domestic Violent Extremists” (DoVE – sounds very peaceful). “Peaceful Protesters” – violent rioters. “HVEs” – like somehow these attacks are our fault. They are murdering our language. The demonrats are trying so hard to avoid antagonizing our enemies that the very communication they are warning us with is of no effect. We should call them what they are: murderous fascist criminals; for another group, jihadis or violent Islamic radicals. “Nation-state adversaries”? How about “evil enemies that want to destroy our nation and make us slaves”? For domestic spying: “DHS is collaborating with industry partners to identify and respond to the radicalization that results from the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and false narratives on social media and other online platforms” – who defines this stuff as good or evil? – the dems? I have no faith in pronouncements of “… (all) while safeguarding privacy protections, civil rights, and civil liberties.” It’s domestic spying – no wonder the thugs encrypt their communications. This is the cowardice you get when all ethics and morals are equal and relative – you can’t define good and evil and you have no basis for defending your own values. Oh, if we can just be nice and not offend them! I pray this nation survives this Biden/Harris/AOC/Pelosi Neville Chamberlain administration – Lord, have mercy on us!
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas is either talking about violent criminal migrants who came over the border in the migrant train from all corners of the world or he is talking about MAGA supporters. They are coming after the Christians at least the ones not apostate apparently the left thinks Christians are violent and hateful.
They have T’d it up, now to wait and see who the unsuspecting target will be.
Obiden has already cleared up the Russian Facebook 2016 presidential election steal with his executive order specifically targeting Russia. Boy, don’t we all feel better now, I didn’t realize they had been bitterly chomping at the bit all these years awaiting their chance to rectify Ole Hillary.
More lockdowns, it’s Scary out there. You should all stay home. Because I Said so, the government were in charge now. You have no rights, again because I said so.
Looks like a civil war not good
“They” are again telegraphing their plans. It’s their way or no way. If they can’t get the world under control with lockdowns, they will use whatever wicked schemes they can come up with.
The takeaway is if one can’t seem to do much against actual Russian, Chinese, Iranian, North Korean, illegal alien, human trafficking, biowarfare, or drug cartel threats, one can always spy on law-abiding Americans or break down doors in Homer, or both.
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Thanks, Big Government, now the price of armored doors is going through the roof too.
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Seems reasonable to ask Secretary Mayorkas for constructive news, what’s been accomplished to keep Americans safe, what’s happening at America’s southern border to intercept terrorists, gang members, human traffickers, drug shipments.
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From the Secretary, one might respectfully request updates:
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Who shot Ashli Babbitt in our nation’s capitol, why were no charges filed against the shooter?
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Who shot US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, what became of the shooter?
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Remember “Fast and Furious” was the Justice Department program allowing assault weapons, including .50-caliber rifles powerful enough to shoot down Border Patrol helicopters, to be sold to Mexican drug cartels as a way to track them.
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Internal documents show the goal was to create a crisis requiring a crackdown on guns in America, a pretext for imposing stricter gun laws.
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The scheme backfired when Justice agents lost track of nearly –2000– guns sold through the program and they started turning up at murder scenes on both sides of the border, including one used to murder US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
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So we ask Mr. Secretary, what happened with “Fast and Furious”?
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One might ask also, what defense DHS has against the scenario of drug cartels buying commercial satellite time to surveil the southern border to determine where U.S. border protection assets are, and probably more importantly, are not?
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Watching Discovery Channel’s “What on Earth?” one realizes the potential of commercial satellites for amazingly detailed, benign surveillance of earthbound things and people.
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Seems reasonable to expect drug cartels, with vast financial resources and powers of persuasion, can afford the same, or closer, satellite surveillance of America’s southern border to see where U.S. border protection assets are, and are not.
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Thank you, Mr. Secretary, may we look forward to your reply.
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