The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI sent a joint intelligence bulletin to state and local law enforcement agencies on Tuesday warning that some domestic groups “discussed plans to take control of the US Capitol and remove Democratic lawmakers in or near a “this Thursday, March 4, according to a senior law official who described the document to NBC News.
The bulletin, entitled “National Capital Region remains an attractive target for domestic violent extremists”, warned that “Domestic violent extremists” or “Violent militia extremists” were encouraged by the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol and therefore , pose a greater general threat.
The bulletin said that violent militia extremists could “exploit public meetings organized formally or spontaneously to engage in violence,” according to the document’s description.
It also states that domestic violent extremists have a “continuing perception of electoral fraud and other conspiracy theories associated with the presidential transition, which can contribute to mobilization (domestic violent extremists) towards violence with little or no warning”.
The official said the bulletin made it clear that “the threat did not begin or end on January 6”.
The new warning came when national security officials testified before two Senate committees about the police’s response to the January attack on the Capitol.
Also on Wednesday, the Capitol Police said they had obtained intelligence showing “a possible conspiracy to violate the Capitol by an identified militia group” on March 4.
“We have already made significant improvements in security to include establishing a physical structure and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police,” the agency said in a statement.
Proponents of conspiracy theory QAnon have set March 4 as the date they believe former President Donald Trump will return to office.
NBC News reported on Tuesday that law enforcement agencies around Washington, DC, were adding extra security out of concern about possible disturbances. Although users in online QAnon groups are looking forward to Thursday, no specific protests or events are being planned, according to an NBC analysis of the largest remaining forums.
Frank Thorp V contributed.