It is not uncommon for the federal government to warn local law enforcement through bulletins about the prospect for violence tied to a particular event or date, such as July 4. The wording of the document suggests that national security officials see a connective thread between recent violence over the last year motivated by anti-government grievances, including COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results and police use of force. It also singles out racially motivated acts of violence such as the 2019 rampage targeting Hispanics in El Paso, Texas, as well as the threat posed by extremists motivated by foreign terrorist organisations. DHS also noted violent riots in “recent days,” an apparent reference to events in Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups. “We have to be candid and face what the real risk is,” he said in a conference call with reporters.

Source: The Hindu January 28, 2021 03:33 UTC