根据最新的国家恐怖主义咨询系统，美国正面临着“在2021年发生了重大变化，变得越来越复杂和不稳定的威胁”公报国土安全部周五发布的关于国内暴力极端主义的报告。
公告称:“这些威胁包括国内恐怖分子、参与基于不满的暴力的个人和团体以及受外国恐怖分子和其他外国恶意影响的人所构成的威胁。”。“这些行为者越来越多地利用社交媒体和在线论坛来影响和传播暴力极端主义叙事和活动。”
总统上任后不久乔·拜登宣誓就职，DHS发布了第一份NTAS公报国内暴力极端主义。该机构1月份发布的公告于4月26日到期。
DHS还在其新公告中指出，暴力极端分子可能会寻求利用放松管制新冠肺炎(新型冠状病毒肺炎)限制。
周四，疾病控制和预防中心推出了新的口罩指南，其中指出，充分接种疫苗的人不必戴口罩室内或室外。
公告称:“在此前的公共能力限制减少了致命袭击的机会后，暴力极端分子可能会寻求利用美国各地与新冠肺炎相关的限制的放松，对更广泛的目标进行袭击。”。
前DHS助理国务卿伊丽莎白·诺伊曼告诉美国广播公司新闻，重新开放将为执法部门带来反恐问题。
“自去年春天以来，反恐、执法和精神卫生专业人员一直担心，当我们重新开放并返回大型集体集会时，这种流行病造成的压力以及所有相关的缓解行动可能会导致暴力事件的增加，”美国广播公司新闻撰稿人纽曼说。
此外，DHS写道，“意识形态驱动的暴力极端分子在感知到的不满、虚假陈述和阴谋论的推动下，继续在网上分享信息，意图煽动暴力。”
国土安全部部长亚历杭德罗·马约尔卡斯(Alejandro Mayorkas)称，该国面临的威胁“比几年前更加动态、更加多样化”。
“我们知道，向公众提供及时和有用的信息是至关重要的，因为我们都在共同努力保护家园，”马约尔卡斯在一份声明中说。“随着今天的《NTAS公报》的发布，我们建议公众对美国面临的持续威胁保持警惕，包括国内恐怖主义、基于不满的暴力以及受外国恐怖分子和其他邪恶外国势力煽动或影响的威胁。”
部门已经做出了打击国内暴力极端主义优先考虑。
星期二，秘书建立了国内恐怖主义分支机构在DHS的情报和分析办公室，并建立了预防计划和伙伴关系中心，以努力打击恐怖主义和有针对性的暴力。DHS以前使用联邦应急管理局的拨款来打击国内恐怖主义，让每个接受者至少拿出7%用于打击国内恐怖主义。
国土安全部还警告说，某些网站可能倡导针对政府官员的暴力。然而，它没有提到任何具体的官员。
周五发布的公告称:“众所周知，持有暴力极端主义意识形态的个人经常光顾的网站上的在线报道呼吁对当选官员、政治代表、政府设施、执法机构、宗教或商业设施以及被认为在意识形态上反对的个人实施暴力。”。
DHS在公告中提到，加密信息的使用可能会使执法部门更难追踪这些细胞。
该机构还写道，民族国家不断放大信息，在美国挑拨离间。
“例如，与俄罗斯、中国和伊朗政府有联系的媒体机构一再放大关于新冠肺炎起源和疫苗效力的阴谋论;在某些情况下，放大针对亚裔人的暴力呼吁。
国家安全委员会前高级反恐官员贾韦德·阿里说，周五的公告显示了各机构对国内暴力极端主义的担忧。
“虽然公告似乎不是基于单一和具体的可信威胁，但它指出了一系列可能导致个人或团体攻击阴谋的因素和不满，”密歇根大学的陶斯利政策制定者阿里说。“过去一年来，其他类似的NTAS公告的使用表明，DHS对该产品的使用更加成熟和规范，其目标是教育和通知多个利益相关方。”
US facing 'complex and volatile' threats from domestic extremism: DHS
The United States is facing "threats that have evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021," according to an updated National Terrorism Advisory Systembulletinon domestic violent extremism issued Friday by the Department of Homeland Security.
"These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences," the bulletin reads. "Social media and online forums are increasingly exploited by these actors to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and activity."
Shortly after PresidentJoe Bidenwas sworn into office, DHSissued the first NTAS bulletinon domestic violent extremism in years. The bulletin the agency issued in January ran out April 26.
DHS also notes in its new bulletin that violent extremists could seek to exploit the easing ofCOVID-19restrictions.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced new mask guidelines, which stated that fully vaccinated peopledo not have to wear a maskinside or outdoors.
"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," according to the bulletin.
Elizabeth Neumann, a former DHS assistant secretary, told ABC News that reopening will create counterterrorism concerns for law enforcement.
"Counterterrorism, law enforcement and mental health professionals have been concerned since last spring that the stress caused by the pandemic, and all of the associated mitigative actions, were likely to lead to an increase in violence when we reopen and return to large, group gatherings," Neumann, an ABC News contributor, said.
Additionally, DHS writes that "ideologically-motivated violent extremists fueled by perceived grievances, false narratives, and conspiracy theories continue to share information online with the intent to incite violence."
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called the threats facing the country "more dynamic, and more diversified than it was several years ago."
"We know that providing timely and useful information to the public is critical as we all work together to secure the homeland," Mayorkas said in a statement. "With the issuance of today's NTAS Bulletin, we are advising the public to be vigilant about ongoing threats to the United States, including those posed by domestic terrorism, grievance-based violence, and those inspired or influenced by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences."
The department has madecombatting domestic violent extremisma priority.
On Tuesday, the secretaryestablished a domestic terrorism branchin the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis and established the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships in an effort to combat terrorism and targeted violence. DHS previously used Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to combat domestic terrorism by having each recipient allocate at least 7% toward combatting domestic terrorism.
The Department of Homeland Security also warned that certain websites could be advocating for violence against government officials. It does not, however, name any specific officials.
"Online narratives across sites known to be frequented by individuals who hold violent extremist ideologies have called for violence against elected officials, political representatives, government facilities, law enforcement, religious or commercial facilities, and perceived ideologically-opposed individuals," the bulletin issued on Friday reads.
DHS mentions in the bulletin that the use of encrypted messaging could make it harder for law enforcement to track these cells.
The agency also writes that nation states are continually amplifying messages to sow discord in the United States.
"For example, Russian, Chinese and Iranian government-linked media outlets have repeatedly amplified conspiracy theories concerning the origins of COVID-19 and effectiveness of vaccines; in some cases, amplifying calls for violence targeting persons of Asian descent," according to the bulletin.
Javed Ali, a former top counterterrorism official on the National Security Council, said that Friday’s bulletin shows the concern agencies have about domestic violent extremism.
"While the bulletin does not appear to be based on a single and specific credible threat, it notes a range of factors and grievances that could drive individuals or groups to attack plotting,” said Ali, a Towsley policymaker in residence at the University of Michigan. "The use other similar NTAS bulletins over the past year shows a more mature and disciplined use by DHS for this product, with the goal of educating and informing multiple stakeholders."
DHS writes it remain "committed to identifying and preventing domestic terrorism."
