An FBI director has been informed that racially motivated extremists in the U.S. are taking inspiration from foreign terrorists, with some even traveling outside of the country to receive training.
Christopher Wray appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss the handling of domestic terrorism suspects and how they are connecting with foreign terrorists, reports The Hill. Extremist groups have reportedly been traveling overseas, often to Eastern Europe. Wray said some U.S. based neo-Nazi groups have established connections with foreign groups with similar ideologies.
Representative Lou Correa expressed concern about some groups training with Ukrainians.
"We are starting to see racially motivated violent extremists connecting with like-minded individuals overseas online, certainly, and in some instances, we have seen some folks travel overseas to train," Wray replied.
Although some groups have traveled, most are looking to their foreign counterparts on the internet. Social media and online communication have helped to increase what he calls the “biggest threat we face here,” referencing shootings at a pair of mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, as a motivator for some who have been arrested here in the U.S.
"Probably a more prevalent phenomenon that we see right now is racially motivated violent extremists here who are inspired by what they see overseas," he said.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said the trend of Americans inspired by extremist ideologies and personal grievances was one of “the most significant emergent threats to national security.”
Wray added that homegrown terrorists are responsible for more fatalities than foreigners. In the fiscal year of 2019, the FBI made 107 domestic terrorism arrests and 121 international terrorism arrests, reports Daily Mail.
“Certainly the most lethality in terms of terrorist attacks over recent years here in the homeland has been on the domestic terrorism side,” he said. “We see domestic terrorism as a persistent, evolving threat.”
Last month, a U.S. Army soldier, Jarrett William Smith was arrested on federal charges for allegedly sending instructions on how to make bombs over social media. He was interested in joining a paramilitary group in Ukraine, Azov Battalion.
Representative Max Rose questioned Wray and other law enforcement officials on their efforts to categorize white supremacist groups as terrorist organizations.
“If a white nationalist organization fits the criteria of an FTO [foreign terrorist organization], as I believe these do, should we consider designating them as such so you have the broad-based authorities you currently do to fight ISIS, al Qaeda and its affiliates?” Rose asked.
Wray said FTO designations are the responsibility of the State Department.
He also said the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi leaves a void that will be quickly filled.
