The US government issued an anti-terrorism alert on Wednesday in the face of the risk of further violence by "
extremists
" opposed to Joe Biden's presidency.
At the same time, the judicial authorities announced the indictment of a supporter of Donald Trump after the discovery in his company of five homemade bombs and an arsenal that he intended, according to the indictment, to use against Democrats .
The Ministry of Internal Security, however, assured that its alert bulletin was not motivated by “
information on a specific credible plot
”.
Rather, he refers to a "
climate of heightened threats
" present throughout the United States and likely to last for several weeks.
"
Reports suggest that violent extremists objecting to the exercise of government authority and the presidential transition, as well as other grievances fueled by false stories, may continue to mobilize, and incite to commit crimes. violence
”, according to its bulletin.
The Ministry of Internal Security regularly publishes these warnings, but they are usually linked to threats of foreign origin, including jihadists.
The last was on Iran.
The new message therefore seems to indicate a change of footing in the administration under the leadership of Joe Biden who, when he was inaugurated on January 20, vowed to "
defeat white supremacism and domestic terrorism
".
The bulletin published on Wednesday, which is valid until April 30, refrains from using these labels.
But he notes that extremists animated by several motivations, and in particular their "
anger at the restrictions linked to Covid-19 and the results of the
presidential
election
", plotted in 2020, and sometimes, attacked official buildings.
Some "
could have been galvanized by the intrusion on January 6
" in the Capitol, adds the ministry, in reference to the murderous assault of supporters of Donald Trump on the seat of Congress at the time when the elected officials certified the victory of his rival .
The ministry says it is determined to protect "
critical infrastructure
" and "
populations that could be targeted because of their religion, race, origin, identity or political opinion
."
But he also invites Americans to be vigilant.
“
Take into account your environment and your personal safety.
Keep emergency contacts and other essential information on you,
”he recommends.
On Monday, the Defense Department had already announced that the thousands of National Guard soldiers deployed for the swearing-in of Joe Biden would remain in Washington until March, following new threats.