By Steve Neavling

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday warned in a bulletin of the potential for violence from domestic extremists following the U.S. Capitol siege. 

The department didn’t mention specific threats but described “a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration.”

“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 said.

The bulletin added that extremists may be “emboldened” by the Capitol riot. 

The motivation for future violence includes “anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force.”

It added that some violent extremists are motivated by “long-standing racial and ethnic tension,” such as immigration issues. The bulletin cited the 2019 mass shooting at a Wall Mart in El Paso, Texas, that left 23 people dead. 

More than 400 suspects in the Capitol riots have been identified, and about 135 have been arrested. At least 134 police officers were assaulted and injured during the siege.

ISIS flag

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The FBI and Homeland Security have warned law enforcement nationwide of possible attacks carried out by homegrown extremists and ISIS-inspired terrorists.

The federal agencies sent out the bulletin on Aug. 31, CBS News reported Wednesday. 

According to the bulletin, extremists are shifting their focus to civilian venues, such as restaurants, churches, sports arenas and theaters.

An analysis by the federal agencies found that 75% of homegrown terrorists have targeted civilians in the past year.

Screenshot of video of man killed by police.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The FBI’s New Orleans Field Division has issued a warning to law enforcement to be on the look out for potential violence in Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

The bulletin cites numerous problematic social media posts after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Anton Sterling by Baton Rouge police.

The “Potential Activity Alert” came before police in riot gear arrested dozens in Baton Rouge on Sunday. Police said protesters were throwing chunks of concrete and bottles at law enforcement.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The threat of hometown extremism has prompted Homeland Security to issue a new terrorism advisory, Business Insider reports.

The bullet cautioned of “homegrown violent extremists who could strike with little or no notice.”

The bulletin follows the worst mass shooting in modern American history.

“The tragic events of Orlando several days ago reinforce this. Accordingly, increased public vigilance and awareness continue to be of utmost importance,” the bulletin said. “This bulletin has a five-month duration and will expire just before the holiday season. We will reassess the threats of terrorism at that time.”

The bulletin warns that homegrown terrorists pose an unpredictable danger to Americans.

It also expressed concern over “terrorist use of the Internet to inspire individuals to violence or join their ranks” and “threats and violence directed at particular communities and individuals across the country, based on perceived religion, ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation.”

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Two months before a gunman shot and killed three people, including a police officer, at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado, the FBI warned of potential attacks at the clinics nationwide, CBS News reports.

The FBI issued an intelligence bulletin in September following the release of a series of videos by Center for Medical Progress that claimed to show Planned Parenthood doctors negotiating the harvesting of fetal tissues from abortions.

Congress also was debating funding for Planned Parenthood.

The intelligence bulletin warned of “lone offenders using tactics of arsons and threats all of which are typical of the pro-life extremist movement.”

Leading up to the bulletin, there had been nine criminal or suspicious incidents in seven stats and D.C. involving Planned Parenthood attacks.

By Steve Neavling

An FBI bulletin about ISIS encouraging attacks on law enforcement prompted the New York City Police Department to take extra steps to protect its officers, Fox News reports. 

“Strike their police, security and intelligence members, as well as their treacherous agents,” the video, released on Twitter by ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammad Al-Adnani, urged, naming the U.S., France, Australia and Canada as targets.

It was the second time Isis released the video, but after last week’s deadly attack in Paris, authorities are taking no risks.

NYPD officers were warned in an internal memo over the weekend to “remain alert and consider tactics at all times while on patrol.”

“NYPD learned yesterday of the re-issuance of a previously posted video threat, believed to have been issued by ISIL in September,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Stephen Davis said. “Based on this new posting, which calls for the killing of civilians, soldiers, intelligence officers and police in certain countries, including France, Australia, Canada and the U.S., the NYPD sent out a message to officers reminding them to remain vigilant on patrol.”

It’s unclear how many other police departments also are taking extra measures to remain vigilant.

By Steve Neavling

The FBI released a bulletin to law enforcement following the disclosure Tuesday that the CIA tortured terrorism suspects.

Here is the bulletin, written by Jeremy W. Francis:

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, law enforcement agencies engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. Police officers, along with firefighters and emergency medical personnel, were the first to respond during the largest loss of civilian life from violent acts of terrorism in America’s history. In the decade following, law enforcement leaders agreed that police departments were not as prepared as they could have been to respond to a terrorist attack.

During the initial response to an incident, no level of administration is more important than the local government. State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers will be the first to respond should an event occur. Therefore, law enforcement agencies should be better prepared today than they were before September 11.

In the author’s survey of 31 municipal and county law enforcement organizations, 41.2% of senior executives—chiefs of police and sheriffs—communicated that they are no better prepared to respond to a terrorist attack today. The majority of leaders reported that their agency’s overall readiness was average or above average; however, 22.5 percent of executives stated that their department’s ability to respond to terrorism measured below average or inadequate. This indicates that improvements are necessary to increase the preparedness posture of law enforcement agencies.

Organizational culture and challenges correlate to terrorism preparedness. One mechanism to improve preparedness in law enforcement agencies is to enhance the culture of operational readiness. When leaders apply change through the organization’s culture, the likelihood of positive results increases.

Tangible, overt, or verbally identifiable elements in an organization are called artifacts. The artifacts of law enforcement organizational culture are examined further as 1) processes— communication, planning, and training; 2) resources—spending and equipment; and 3) personnel. These are the most visible and straightforward elements to increase change in the organization.

The author’s research demonstrated that positive organizational culture improves operational preparedness. This inclination enhances an agency’s ability to respond to a terrorist attack. This occurs because organizational change through culture reduces resistance and increases readiness.

To read more click here.

Michael Brown

The FBI is worried about “likely” threats and attacks targeting law enforcement after a grand jury determines whether a Ferguson police officer will be charged with killing an unarmed Michael Brown, ABC News reports.

The FBI also warned law enforcement of possible attacks on electrical facilities and water treatment plants.

“The announcement of the grand jury’s decision … will likely be exploited by some individuals to justify threats and attacks against law enforcement and critical infrastructure,” the FBI said in an intelligence bulletin. “This also poses a threat to those civilians engaged in lawful or otherwise constitutionally protected activities.”

The FBI’s concerns were not over peaceful protesters.

“The FBI assesses those infiltrating and exploiting otherwise legitimate public demonstrations with the intent to incite and engage in violence could be armed with bladed weapons or firearms, equipped with tactical gear/gas masks, or bulletproof vests to mitigate law enforcement measures.”