It's become more difficult to identify motivations behind mass casualty attacks: DHS
ABC News
It's become more difficult to identify motivations behind mass casualty attacks: DHS
A toxic brew of ideological extremism, blended with rage, anger and violent tendencies is making it increasingly difficult for authorities to identify motivations behind mass casualty attacks in America, according to a new assessment by the Department of Homeland Security.
The confidential analysis, distributed to law enforcement on Jan. 10 and obtained by ABC News, describes the growing challenge posed by perpetrators who "espoused and engaged with an array of narratives," often online, "likely fueling their mobilization to violence."
Those attackers' range of beliefs made it easier to escape the longstanding templates law enforcement uses to catch would-be threats – and made it harder for police to intervene or secure potential targets, the analysis found.
"Since 2018, we have observed mass casualty attacks in which the perpetrators held multiple grievances, challenging our ability to identify a primary motive," the bulletin said.
Examining eight attacks in the past five years which collectively killed 47 people and injured nearly 130 more, DHS' analysis found the "recent attackers influenced by mixed factors complicate target identification for law enforcement."
