DHS warns of increase in coronavirus-inspired violence

[swag]

Source: Politico

By NATASHA BERTRAND
04/23/2020 04:23 PM EDT

Domestic terrorists and violent extremists are mobilizing in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the threat could get more severe “until the virus is contained and the normal routine of U.S. societal life resumes,” according to a Department of Homeland Security intelligence note sent to law enforcement officials around the country.

The memo, dated April 23 and obtained by POLITICO, cites recent arrests of individuals who have threatened government facilities and elected officials over the health restrictions that have been imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19. The warning, marked unclassified/law enforcement sensitive, was disseminated as so-called Liberate protesters have begun demonstrating outside several states' capitol buildings demanding an end to the lockdowns.

Those arrested in the last month include an “anti-government extremist” who threatened to kill New Mexico’s governor over the coronavirus restrictions, and another individual who was arrested late last month for allegedly threatening to blow up the Orlando Police Department’s headquarters — hours after a countywide stay-at-home order was put into effect — because people are being “put ... out of work” because of the pandemic.

“Recent incidents and arrests nationwide illustrate how the COVID-19 pandemic is driving violent actors—both non-ideologically and ideologically motivated—to threaten violence,” the memo reads. “These incidents indicate that COVID-19 is serving as the impetus for some domestic terrorist plots.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/23/dhs-increase-in-coronavirus-inspired-violence-205221

[LisaM]

1. Yeah, my boyfriend saw someone carrying a gun at the grocery store the other day.

Now, our grocery store has been great. It's large, people have been shopping at odd times, spacing out from each other at huge intervals, most people wearing masks, etc. One access is through an elevator and it has a clear sign "one household at a time". He was getting on and a guy pulled up in a big old truck, and got on the elevator with him, joking, "you're not afraid of me?" And then it turned out that he was openly carrying a gun and ammo (I guess this is permitted in Washington state, but we live in Seattle and we never see this).

[Newest Reality]

2. In other words...

Watch out, because already unstable, angry and violent people have their symptoms aggravated and their paranoid delusions exaggerated during a crisis, thusly becoming a part of the crisis itself.

Plus, what we have left of any mental health system here just plain sucks.

[Chainfire]

6. agreed

and they have a lot of time to sit around and be indoctrinated and recruited on-line. Disasters are banner days for terrorist recruiters.

Personally I do not like the term "domestic terrorist" The folks are just terrorists and there should be no distinction in them and foreign terrorists. It makes no difference to the shootee if the shooter is from Indiana or Iran.

[Warpy]

3. Yeah, and those forklift pallets of PPE they've stolen from hospitals?

They're all going to the National Guard, the cops, ICE, and some military units which will be tasked with shooting their fellow citizens in the name of maintaining order.

Not the right wingers, of course, they can strut around with their little popguns with impunity. They'll only go after the easy, unarmed targets.

[rzemanfl]

4. Wait until the pissed off lefties in red states get going.

I am getting closer with each passing day of incompetence, arrogance, greed, and outright heartlessness.

[Traildogbob]

5. Come back Obama

We could use the drone strikes against terrorists more than ever. Ememy from within. It is legal, the constitution and the oaths millions have taken, says......take em out.

[riversedge]

7. so basically,,it seems it is the "so-called Liberate protesters" umm.. Trumps hero's!!

Some of those pics I have seen are very scary.

........The warning, marked unclassified/law enforcement sensitive, was disseminated as so-called Liberate protesters have begun demonstrating outside several states' capitol buildings demanding an end to the lockdowns.

[sheshe2]

8. All of which will be led by, Dear Leader.

He is to chicken to be there in person however he will be at the bully pulpit firing them up.

[yaesu]

9. yep, tRump is instigating that violence, is he impeachable yet? nt

[NotHardly]

10. CORRECTION: "Is he impeachable again...and again, and again...YES, yes he is."

[hadEnuf]

11. COVID-19 is not the impetus for these terrorists,

it's the IMPOTUS that is the impetus for these terrorists.

Two-faced Trump is egging on his degenerate & deranged base to become martyrs for his fascist cause while he pretends to agree with the governors and the CDC. He thinks this will give himself some kind of plausible deniability when his wingnuts start going off.

Trump WANTS civil unrest and violence as long as it benefits him.


Let's face it. Trump is going to try and stay in power and there are no depths he and his scum of the earth supporters will not sink to in order to achieve that.

[sandensea]

12. +1

This can't be overstated or repeated too often.

Thank you.