The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned in an intelligence brief on Friday that domestic terrorists could launch attacks due to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
The announcement comes after a Left-wing extremist was arrested outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier this month for allegedly trying to assassinate him and after more than 20 pregnancy resource centers and offices of pro-life groups have been attacked or vandalized in recent weeks.
“Some domestic violent extremists (DVEs) will likely exploit the recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade to intensify violence against a wide range of targets,” DHS said. “We expect violence could occur for weeks following the release, particularly as DVEs may be mobilized to respond to changes in state laws and ballot measures on abortion stemming from the decision. We base this assessment on an observed increase in violent incidents across the United States following the unauthorized disclosure in May of a draft majority opinion on the case.”
The report said that federal and state government officials, including judges, were the most at risk of being attacked.
“In late May, a network of loosely affiliated suspected violent extremists, known as ‘Jane’s Revenge’—which has been linked to arson attacks against the buildings of ideological opponents—shared a post online encouraging a ‘night of rage’ following the Supreme Court announcement, stating, ‘we need the state to feel our full wrath’ and ‘we need them to be afraid of us,’” the document said. “An individual is now awaiting trial for a plot in June to kill a US Supreme Court Justice in response to the draft opinion. A separate incident in Michigan involved vandalism claimed by ‘Jane’s Revenge’ on a building that houses a US Representative’s campaign office and a pro-life advocacy group.”
The intelligence report also warned that domestic terrorists could potentially violently attack “ideological opponents” at “first amendment protected events.”
“Both reproductive and family advocacy healthcare facilities likely will continue to remain primary targets for criminal incidents, and violence could escalate against these facilities or personnel,” the report said. “Faith-based organizations across the United States continue to report numerous criminal incidents against religious institutions connected to abortion rights. We are aware of at least 11 incidents of vandalism threatening violence targeting religious facilities perceived as being opposed to abortion, and one threat to ‘bomb’ and ‘burn’ a church in New York. These incidents of vandalism against faith-based organizations could indicate future targets of DVE attacks.”