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Racially-motivated violence most dangerous threat to US: Report

Thursday, 18 March 2021 9:18 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 18 March 2021 9:18 AM ]

Members of the Proud Boys militia join other supporters of the then-US President Donald Trump as they demonstrate in Washington, the US, on December 12, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Racially-motivated violent extremists pose the most dangerous threat to the United States, says a declassified intelligence report.

A report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said “that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists” are the “most likely to conduct mass-casualty” attacks against civilians.

It defines “racially-motivated extremists” as those with “ideological agendas bias, often related to race or ethnicity.

White supremacists display what officials say is “the most persistent and concerning transnational connections,” it said.

Militia violence also “presents the most lethal [domestic violent extremism] threat” to “law enforcement and government personnel and facilities,” said the report.

The threat from militias increased last year and is expected to increase again this year, according to the report.

8 dead in Atlanta-area shootings; suspect arrested

The report came just hours after a gunman fatally shot eight people at several Atlanta-area massage parlors.

“Today’s report underscores how we face the greatest threat from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, especially white supremacists, and militia violent extremists,” said Democratic representative Adam Schiff of California, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

White supremacist propaganda hit all-time record in 2020

The White supremacists, who enjoyed the support of former president Donald Trump, played a key role in the deadly breach of the US Capitol on January 6, when the lawmakers were holding a session to certify the victory of President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Trump had previously called the far-right elements “very fine people.”

On the day of the attack, and before the raid was carried out, Trump told his loyalists in Washington to show their support for him and asked them to "stop the steal" as lawmakers were in the process of confirming his defeat.

Trump was impeached by the House for a historic second time for the instigation of the attack.

Five people were killed in the raid, including a police officer who reportedly died after inhaling bear spray used against him by one Trump supporter.

The FBI director, Christopher Wray, who testified earlier this month said the threat from domestic violent extremism was “metastasizing” across the nation.

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