DHS: Violent Extremists Could ‘Exploit’ Easing of Coronavirus Capacity Restrictions – By Claire Hansen (US News) / May 14 2021
The warning came as part of a broader summary of the current terrorism threat that builds on a bulletin issued in January and emphsizes the threat of domestic violence extremists.
Violent extremists could take advantage of the easing of coronavirus restrictions to attack higher-capacity targets, the Department of Homeland Security said in a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin Friday.
“Violent extremists may seek to exploit the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions across the United States to conduct attacks against a broader range of targets after previous public capacity limits reduced opportunities for lethal attacks,” the bulletin said.
Domestic extremists motivated by racial or ethnic biases have in the past targeted houses of worship or crowded commercial facilities or gatherings, the bulletin said. Coronavirus-related capacity limits on such locations are being lifted across the country as vaccination rates increase and virus cases decline.
Authorities are not aware, however, of any specific plot, and the warning was a part of a summary of the current terrorism threats facing the country. The bulletin reinforced the dangers of domestic extremists and homegrown threats – the second time the department has done so since President Joe Biden took office. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has said repeatedly that domestic terrorists, including those motivated by hate, currently pose one of the biggest terrorism threats to the U.S.
