Arrests in domestic terror probes outpace those inspired by Islamic extremists

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post


By Devlin Barrett March 9 at 7:00 AM

Most people arrested as the result of FBI terrorism investigations are charged with non-terrorism offenses, and more domestic terror suspects were arrested last year than those allegedly inspired by international terror groups, according to internal FBI figures reviewed by The Washington Post.

As government officials and activists debate the best way to pursue violent extremists, the figures show how much of counterterrorism work goes undeclared and unnoticed. Thousands are investigated each year. Hundreds are charged with crimes. But the public and the media see only dozens.

The debate centers on whether federal law and law enforcement are too focused on Islamic terrorism and not paying enough attention to the rise in far right-wing extremism. In fact, according to the data, more domestic terrorist targets are being charged, and in both categories, law enforcement often leverage simpler crimes, such as violations of gun or drug laws, to prevent violence.

“It’s violence that we key in on,” said a senior law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive federal investigative work. “And sometimes, it’s the violence that motivates someone more than any particular ideology.”


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/arrests-in-domestic-terror-probes-outpace-those-inspired-by-islamic-extremists/2019/03/08/0bf329b6-392f-11e9-a2cd-307b06d0257b_story.html

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Which category do domestic islamic extremists fit into?

[DRoseDARs]

6. You literally answered your own question...

Which category do domestic Christian extremists fit into? The answer will be the same. If they're not US citizens, foreign terrorist. If they're US citizens, domestic terrorist (though if a person were naturalized rather than born as citizens, THEN they could face being stripped of citizenship). Not that perplexing ... unless one is an Islamophobic racist that assumes ALL Muslims are foreign. More than a few members of our government fit that bill. Never mind that Muslims have lived here since at least the late-1800s as free people, earlier as Union soldiers in the US civil war, colonial slaves or traders/merchants.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Yes, my point being that the article DOES seem to make the assumption you highlight. . . . nt

[Trenzalore]

2. Trump has no interest in policing the more extreme part of his base

He may call upon them if he loses the next election.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Republicans have been trying to keep stirring this country's sociopaths regularly for years,

to keep them simmering in barely controlled readiness to run amok at the drop of a hat, whenever they need to paralyze the left with fear.

You might remember Sarah Palin's crosshairs over Democrats posters during her time as John McCain's vice-presidential choice, preceding the murder of people surrounding Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, and even this strange event I never heard about until just now, as I tried to find info. on Palin:

Five Missouri Democrats Discover Crosshairs Outside Their Capitol Offices
ADAM PECK
JAN 26, 2012, 4:40 PM

Five Democratic state senators in Missouri discovered large, orange crosshair stickers over their office nameplates on Tuesday in the Capitol Building in Jefferson. The targets included all four Democratic women in the state Senate, as well as the Democratic minority leader. One Republican state representative also found a similar sticker outside his office.

Capitol police are still investigating the matter, and some of the senators took to the Senate floor to express their concerns:

“Many of us when we came back to our office this afternoon had gun targets on our nameplates. A few of the senators removed them, only to have them replaced by larger stickers later,” said Jolie Justus, a Democrat from Kansas City.

More:
https://thinkprogress.org/five-missouri-democrats-discover-crosshairs-outside-their-capitol-offices-551f05eff00a/

(That one never even became widely known....)

Trump may be the first one to publicly rave in ways it's clear to see he is deliberately trying to instigate murderous violence against Democrats, people of color, etc. continually.

I am certain you are right.

[Jedi Guy]

8. The crosshairs thing happened in 2010.

That was well after the 2008 election, so that didn't happen during her time as McCain's running mate.

[RockRaven]

4. It is important to note this higher arrest rate occurs DESPITE Trump's efforts to LIMIT FBI/DOJ

efforts to counter right wing domestic terrorism. Imagine what the arrest rate would be if the FBI/DOJ were given special directions and resources to pursue those people as aggressively as they do Islamic terrorists.

[DRoseDARs]

5. "Most people arrested in terr.invests...charged with non-terrorism offenses." Sounds about white. nt

[duforsure]

9. Trump and the GOP are now a hate group

And promoting domestic terror by way of suggestive wording to incite his base with. We've already seen some act out from that. Separation of children from their families to hurt them for life with is a form of it. When a president goes out of his way to be cruel, and inhumane to others, that is what happens. Others do it too thinking its ok.