Warning that the deadly rampage of the Capitol this month may not be an isolated episode, the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday said publicly for the first time that the US faced a growing threat from “violent domestic extremists” emboldened by the attack.

The department’s terrorism alert did not name specific groups that might be behind any future attacks, but it made clear that their motivation would include anger over “the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fuelled by false narratives”, a clear reference to the accusations made by former President Donald J. Trump and echoed by Right-wing groups that the election was stolen.

“DHS is concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021,” the department said.

The Department of Homeland Security does not have information indicating a “specific, credible plot”, according to a statement from the agency. The alert issued was categorised as one warning of developing trends in terrorism, rather than a notice of an imminent attack.

But an intelligence official involved in drafting the bulletin said the decision to issue the report was driven by the department’s conclusion that Biden’s peaceful inauguration last week could create a false sense of security.

New York Times News Service