U.S. terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence

The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Biden’s election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol may embolden extremists and set for the stage for additional attacks.

The department did not cite a specific threat but pointed to “a heightened threat environment across the United States” after Biden took office last week and said it believed it would persist.

It did not mention any ideological or political affiliation, instead warning more broadly about “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.”

These individuals, the department said, could continue to mobilize a broad range of ideologically motivated actors “to incite or commit violence.”

It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins and advisories about the prospect for violence tied to a particular date or event, such as July 4.

But this particular bulletin, issued through the the department’s National Terrorism Advisory System, is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests that it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism.

The wording of the single-page document suggests that national security officials see a connective thread in violence over the last year motivated by anti-government grievances, whether over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results or police use of force. It also singles out racially motivated acts of violence such as the 2019 rampage targeting Latinos in Texas, as well as the threat posed by extremists motivated by foreign terrorist organizations.

The alert comes at a tense time, just weeks after the riot at the Capitol by supporters of then-President Trump who were seeking to overturn the presidential election. The Department of Homeland Security also notes violent riots in “recent days,” an apparent reference to events in Portland, Ore., linked to anarchist groups.

The alert was issued by acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske. Biden’s nominee for the Cabinet post, Alejandro Mayorkas, has not been confirmed by the Senate.