Using the Late Friday Press Release trick, Homeland Security snuck in an interesting one last week.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment leading up to and following the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks as well religious holidays we assess could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence. These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.
Anti-Lockdown, Anti-Vaccine? You Might Be A Terrorist
Through the remainder of 2021, racially- or ethnically-motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists will remain a national threat priority for the United States. These extremists may seek to exploit the emergence of COVID-19 variants by viewing the potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks. Pandemic-related stressors have contributed to increased societal strains and tensions, driving several plots by domestic violent extremists, and they may contribute to more violence this year.
While we would love to believe the best intentions of the U.S. Government, this one makes you scratch your head a bit. The “conspiracy” crowd is losing their minds over this one as well and given their recent track record, it might be a good idea to at least look into it. Because these folks seem to be doing far more research than mainstream media these days.
Hopefully this is nothing, but check it out for yourself and read the entire release at https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-august-13-2021 or download the PDF.
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