A top official at the Department of Homeland Security calls the current U.S. security environment the most dangerous he’s ever seen in more than 30 years. He is asking churches, universities and public officials to pay close attention.
John Cohen, DHS Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Policy Policy, spoke on February 15th at an online panel hosted at George Washington University by the Program on Extremism.
“The threat environment in which I work is probably the most volatile or dynamic I have ever encountered in my 35+ years of professional experience” he stated. “We’re at a point in this country where it is necessary to be serious, where we can work together and respond to any threat.
Cohen addressed the concerns highlighted in a special DHS National Terrorism Advisory System BulletinFebruary 7, 2007
Bulletin stated that online misinformation and conspiracy theories are fueling domestic and foreign threat actors, who seek to undermine trust and encourage unrest, which could lead to violence.
According to the bulletin, narratives about “unsubstantiated widespread electoral fraud and COVID-19”, led to violent extremist attacks over the past year.
Cohen said that Cohen has tied those socio-political narratives to “the overwhelming majority of domestic violent extremeist incidents and/or disruptions attacks through the course 2021.”
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On February 14, a Louisville, Kentucky mayoral candidate became the latest target of what DHS called the rapidly growing terror threat.
A gunman tried to shoot candidate Craig Greenberg at his campaign office.
Greenberg said, “He pulled out his gun and pointed it directly at me. He then began shooting.” “I’m shaken up. It was surreal.
Greenberg’s staff was capable of closing and barricading the office door, preventing any injuries.
Quintez Brown, a local social justice activist and college student, was charged with attempted murder.
The Louisville shooting follows a massacre that took place just weeks ago in North Texas, where a gunman held four people hostage at a synagogue.
Cohen stated that both Texas, and Louisville, fit the pattern of multiple ideologies driving extremists. He said that the British gunman in north Texas identified with ISIS but also held anti-government and vaccine views.
Cohen said that there was a level of anger. “The threat actors are fueling anger.”
Cohen also took issue in DHS’s accusations of political discrimination. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), however, resisted the bulletin and said “they don’t just talk about acts of violence, committed towards achieving a political goal or an ideological goal. They are referring to dissent.
Cohen stated that “our job is not to monitor thoughts, but to prevent acts of violence.” “We don’t monitor individuals if they are involved with constitutionally protected speech. We don’t target people based on their political beliefs for investigation.”
DHS bulletin stated that threat actors continue to call for violence against soft targets and mass gatherings such as churches, universities, and government buildings.
“I think churches ought to be well aware that their targets are,” said a church security expert. Oasis Safety founder Ron Aguiar.
He stressed the pattern of lone-wolf attackrs. He spoke of US church-based violence and said that “you can go back in 20-30 years in violence of churches–it was one person.”
Cohen and Aguiar encouraged churches to look into the free resources available for preventing or mitigating attacks. They include FEMA grants to increase security
Both emphasized the importance of close working relationships between local police and churches.
Cohen stated that he would like to see Americans less demonizing their political opponents, and refusing to accept violence from them on a deeper level.