The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned on Thursday that the risk of violent incidents by extremist groups remains high as the November 2024 presidential election approaches.

“In 2024, we expect the threat of violent acts by violent radicalized extremists in the US to remain high,” DHS said in its annual risk assessment.

The threat posed by extremist organizations at home, without real international connections, and those inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, remains practically “unchanged,” according to the text (p. v).

All these extremists “will continue to be inspired and motivated by a mix of conspiracy theories, personal grievances, and ideologies with racist, religious, and anti-government leanings,” it adds (p. 3).

Hundreds of people, including some members of extremist organizations, faced prosecution and some were sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

According to the department, extremists motivated by racial and ethnic hatred and advocating race war pose a serious threat to US security.

Over the past two years, some of these organizations have carried out attacks against energy and telecommunications infrastructure, especially power plants, in order to instill fear and destabilize society.

Racially motivated mass killings have also been committed by several, the most recent example of which unfolded in late August when a 21-year-old white man killed three African-Americans in Jacksonville, Florida before killing himself.

DHS also warns, ahead of next year’s elections, against the danger posed by extremists inspired by conspiracy theories and grievances against the government.

These latter may seek to “obstruct the electoral process”, the report estimates, referring to potential violent actions and threats against government, election officials and voters.

Besides, always according to the DHS, “Russia, China, and Iran likely see the 2024 election as an opportunity to conduct influence campaigns, overt or covert,” in order to secure results “favorable to them” and/or “undermine the stability of the USA”.