Washington, United States

US intelligence agencies have identified domestic extremists, driven by conspiracy theories about election fraud, as the most significant threat of violence leading up to and following the 2024 election. 

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Who's at risk?

An internal Joint Intelligence Bulletin from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), obtained by NBC News, warns that these extremists pose a credible threat and that they seek to terrorise law enforcement and disrupt voting. 

It stipulates that extremists can target individuals, such as candidates, election officials, judges, and members of the media. Key locations at risk, as per the bulletin, include polling sites, ballot drop boxes, and political gatherings.

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According to the report, perceptions of election fraud are a "prominent narrative" for extremists targeting officials. Other motivations for them include immigration, LGBTQ issues, abortion and failed assassination attempts on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Former President Trump continues to allege that a rigged system was the driving force behind his 2020 election loss, a claim echoed by his hard-right supporters. This claim became the reason behind the tragic Capitol Hill riot of Jan 2021.

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Intelligence suggests that, since January 6, at least three attacks and two interrupted plots have stemmed from these baseless fraud claims.

After the January 6, 2021 riots, there has been a significant shift in intelligence dissemination practices. Before that, Federal agents regularly provided such threat assessments to state and local law enforcement agencies but were cautious about sharing such bulletins to avoid appearing to infringe on free speech.

The October internal report is one of several obtained via public records requests by Property of the People, a non-profit focused on government transparency.

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Ryan Shapiro, executive director of Property of the People, said that the reports "are not typical election threat intelligence," but that they are "unmistakably a product of a radically heightened threat environment."

2024 US Elections and threat environment

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Mayra Rodriguez, in a statement, said, "The United States remains in a heightened, dynamic threat environment, and we continue to share information with our law enforcement partners about the threats posed by domestic violent extremists in the context of the 2024 election".

She emphasised that "Violence has no place in our politics, and DHS continues to work with our partners to evaluate and mitigate emerging threats that may arise from domestic or foreign actors".

As per NBC news, election workers across the US are responding to the rise in threats with increased security measures, particularly in areas marked by election disputes, such as Maricopa County, Arizona. Heightened security measures for election day (Nov 5) include metal detectors, armed guards, drones, and police snipers.

The FBI reports that threats toward election officials, including swatting and harassment, are intensifying. 

(With inputs from agencies)