The Department of Homeland Security issued a new warning on Friday in wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The announcement comes on the heels of the arrest of a left-wing extremist 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,” the warning continued.
“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 added that federal and state government officials, including judges, were the most at risk of being targeted.
“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 DHS document added.
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,” said the document.
“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,” it warned.
The high court’s Friday ruling does not ban abortions or outlaw them in any manner. Rather, the justices simply returned the issue to states, where it resided for nearly 200 years before the 1973 Roe ruling legalizing abortion nationwide.
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