In addition to protecting the U.S. against international terrorists, “traditional” home-grown terrorist groups continue to exist, and individuals like Timothy McVeigh, continue to present a threat. Additionally, home-grown violent extremists who are inspired by al-Qaeda and other international terrorists and terrorist groups but who have no actual connection to them, pose a threat to the security of our county.
To further protect America from the threat of terrorism on our home soil from disaffected Americans, members of domestic terrorism and extremist groups, and from homegrown violent extremists who are inspired by and seeking to emulate international terrorists, the U.S. Attorneys’ offices work to identify, disrupt, prevent and defeat domestic terrorist operations before they occur and to vigorously prosecute those who commit or intend to commit such acts.
Domestic terrorism includes acts within the territorial U.S. that are dangerous to human life, violate federal or state criminal laws, have no actual connection to international terrorists, and appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence domestic government policy through intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of our government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.
Current domestic terrorism threats include animal rights extremists, eco-terrorists, anarchists, antigovernment extremists such as “sovereign citizens” and unauthorized militias, Black separatists, White supremacists, anti-abortion extremists, and other unaffiliated disaffected Americans, including “lone wolfs.” Domestic terrorism cases often involve firearms, arson or explosive offenses, crimes relating to fraud, and threats and hoaxes.