August 1, 2019 Yahoo
The FBI for the first time has identified fringe conspiracy theories
as a domestic terrorist threat, according to a previously unpublicized
document obtained by Yahoo News. (Read the document below.)
The
FBI intelligence bulletin from the bureau’s Phoenix field office, dated
May 30, 2019, describes “conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists,”
as a growing threat, and notes that it is the first such report to do
so. It lists a number of arrests, including some that haven’t been
publicized, related to violent incidents motivated by fringe beliefs.
The
document specifically mentions QAnon, a shadowy network that believes
in a deep state conspiracy against President Trump, and Pizzagate, the
theory that a pedophile ring including Clinton associates was being run
out of the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant (which
didn’t actually have a basement).
“The FBI assesses these
conspiracy theories very likely will emerge, spread, and evolve in the
modern information marketplace, occasionally driving both groups and
individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts,” the
document states. It also goes on to say the FBI believes conspiracy
theory-driven extremists are likely to increase during the 2020
presidential election cycle.
No comments:
Post a Comment