A bulletin released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday warns of potential retaliatory or repeated attacks against political candidates.
The bulletin, which was first obtained by Politico, stated, “The FBI and DHS remain concerned about the potential for follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence following this attack, particularly given that individuals in some online communities have threatened, encouraged, or referenced acts of violence in response to the attempted assassination.”
The bulletin warned that “lone actors” or small cells of individuals will likely “continue to view publicly accessible locations like political rallies and campaign events as attractive targets.”
According to the FBI and DHS bulletin, would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at a gun shop located in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, prior to the shooting on Saturday. The bulletin also explained that the FBI discovered “three suspected improvised explosive devices,” including two in Crooks’s vehicle and one at the shooter’s house.
The bulletin noted that a review of the shooter’s shipping history showed Crooks received multiple packages over the past several months, including some that might have contained “hazardous material.”
READ MORE: Video: New video shows would-be assassin walking around at Trump rally
FBI and DHS officials noted that the attempted assassination of Trump “reinforces our assessment that election-related targets are under a heightened threat of attack or other types of disruptive incidents.”
According to the joint bulletin, FBI and DHS officials had “observed disruptive tactics against targets related to the 2024 US general election cycle,” which the agencies claimed were similar to tactics used over the past two election cycles. The bulletin said the tactics included false bomb threats, doxing, swatting, and white powder letters sent to election officials.
While FBI and DHS officials said the motives behind the various “disruptive tactics” often remain unknown, officials indicated that the tactics are meant to “intimidate and disrupt election operations.”
Pictures of the FBI and DHS bulletin were shared on X, formerly Twitter, by journalist Catherine Herridge.
In addition to the joint bulletin, an FBI source told Fox News, “We continue to face very real threats from those who seek to undermine our elections. The FBI remains vigilant in our efforts to detect and assess possible threats and, as always, we encourage the public to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety.”
