Supporters of US President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier, outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan 6, 2021. (JULIO CORTEZ / AP)
The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, issued a national terrorism alert on Wednesday, saying the Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol may embolden extremists and set the stage for additional attacks in the coming weeks.
The department said it does not have evidence of a specific plot and it did not mention any ideological or political affiliation, but said violent extremists opposed to the government and the presidential transition "could continue to mobilize".
"Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence," the bulletin issued through the DHS National Terrorist Advisory System said.
The Department of Homeland Security said it is "concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some (domestic violent extremists) may be emboldened" by the breach of the Capitol "to target elected officials and government facilities"
The DHS said it is "concerned these same drivers to violence will remain through early 2021 and some (domestic violent extremists) may be emboldened" by the breach of the Capitol "to target elected officials and government facilities".
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The alert comes after the riot at the Capitol by supporters of then-president Donald Trump who were seeking to overturn the presidential election. The DHS also noted violent riots in "recent days", an apparent reference to events in Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups.
For months, demonstrations were held nightly in Oregon's largest city following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Many ended with clouds of tear gas and clashes with police or federal officers.
Most recently, following the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Jan 20, more than 150 people gathered outside the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement building in Portland's South Waterfront.
Unlawful assembly
Portland police said protesters threw rocks and eggs, vandalizing the building. Six people were arrested as officers declared it an unlawful assembly.
The demonstration was one of several that took place that day. Earlier, far-left protesters smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon building in northeast Portland. Eight people were arrested there.
READ MORE: World stunned by Trump supporters storming US Capitol
The DHS alert is the department's first in about a year. The last such bulletin came in January 2020 when the DHS issued one over potential retaliation by Iran for the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq
The DHS alert is the department's first in about a year. The last such bulletin came in January 2020 when the DHS issued one over potential retaliation by Iran for the US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.
A year before that, the DHS issued a bulletin through the same system to highlight the threat from foreign terrorist groups like ISIS or al-Qaida.
The DHS did not issue an alert ahead of the Jan 6 rally in Washington that devolved into a mob assault at the Capitol, despite public warnings online that extremists planned to do so.
Wednesday's public warning echoes what intelligence bulletins sent privately to law enforcement officials in recent weeks have said, underscoring continued threats of violence-prone individuals who still believe Biden's election was illegitimate.
The federal government warns local law enforcement through bulletins about the prospect for violence tied to a particular date or event.
But The Associated Press said this particular bulletin is notable because it effectively places the Biden administration into the politically charged debate over how to describe or characterize acts motivated by political ideology and suggests it sees violence aimed at overturning the election as akin to terrorism.
Agencies contributed to this story.
