Homeland Security says we’re seeing increasingly complex and volatile threats in 2021

DELMARVA- Increasingly complex and volatile threats, that’s how the Secretary of Homeland Security describes the current heightened threat environment across the United states in 2021.

“It’s hard for us to realize that this is where we are today in this country, but it is relevant to us even at a local level that we don’t become part of that,” Chief Mike McDermott, with the Federalsburg Police Department, said.

Recently, homeland security put out information about domestic threats, saying these increased threats include individuals and groups engaging in grievance based violence or being influenced by foreign terrorists.

“We’ve certainly heard a lot about recent things going on with Russia and China, not only the interference in our elections but in other cases as well and then of course we had the gas pipeline issue,” Dr. Sam Hoff, George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science, said.

They added the expansion in social media and online forums are increasingly used by these people to spread violent activity, and that threats have also been heightened by the impacts from the pandemic.

“There are some mental health issues associated with that that could draw some folks into networks and other means where they might potentially act out in a domestic terrorist manner,” Dr. Hoff said.

And we’re told as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and people start to gather more this could impact issues police see.

“I think when you have a large quantity of people, I think its safe to say it could potentially increase the chances for something to go wrong but we implore our men and women to be very vigilant and be diligent in their duties,” Sheriff Matt Crisafulli, with Worcester County, said.

That’s why departments, like the Worcester County Sheriffs Office, says as more events start to happen they will continue to work with federal partners and use additional manpower.

At the end of the day, law enforcement says they are going to work hard across the board to make sure cyber attacks and domestic threats don’t take place.

They said they are already monitoring intelligence daily, ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, when large crowds are expected here on Delmarva.

Crisafulli said several his deputies are cross designated with homeland security investigations.

And all of the law enforcement we spoke with encourage people to say something if they see something that could potentially be a threat.