US domestic terror probes up over 40% since 2020 says FBI

FBI probes of domestic terrorism plots have risen to 2,000 cases, up from 1,400 at the end of 2020 – according to the bureau's director Christopher Wray.

Arrests of "racially motivated violent extremists", including white supremacists, have nearly tripled since 2017, Mr Wray told a Senate committee.

For the first time, Mr Wray called the Capitol attack "domestic terrorism".

Over 260 people have been arrested in connection with the 6 January storming of the US Capitol to date.

 

Accepting such behaviour "would make a mockery of our nation's rule of law" Mr Wray warned during Tuesday's hearing.

Mr Wray added that he believed that the siege had been "an inspiration to a number of terrorist extremists".

His testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday marks Mr Wray's first public appearance since before November's presidential election.

Mr Wray had not previously spoken publicly about the attack at the US Capitol, although he has worked with local law enforcement and briefed lawmakers in private.