A newly discovered FBI document shows that the Bureau has, for the first time, started to identify fringe conspiracy theories as a new type of domestic terrorist threat.
The document, obtained exclusively by Yahoo! News, came out of the Bureau’s Phoenix field office a little over two months ago.
The FBI decribed “‘conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists’ as a growing threat, and notes that it is the first such report to do so,” Yahoo! News reported. “It lists a number of arrests, including some that haven’t been publicized, related to violent incidents motivated by fringe beliefs.”
Specific conspiracy theories that the document mentions include QAnon and Pizzagate.
“The FBI assesses these conspiracy theories very likely will emerge, spread, and evolve in the modern information marketplace, occasionally driving both groups and individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts,” the document states.
Yahoo! News noted that the FBI said in the document that it believes some fringe conspiracy theories could increase the risk of violent attacks during the 2020 election.
The document added that one factor that is increasing the threat posed by fringe conspiracy theoris is “the uncovering of real conspiracies or cover-ups involving illegal, harmful, or unconstitutional activities by government officials or leading political figures.”
President Donald Trump and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have all pushed, in recent weeks, to designate the far-left group Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
For example, Trump recently tweeted: “Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others). Would make it easier for police to do their job!”