Topline
An FBI office in Virginia issued an explicit warning that extremists were planning to travel to Washington, D.C., to commit violence and “war” the day before the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to an internal report obtained by The Washington Post, directly contradicting the bureau’s previous claim that it had no intelligence to predict last Wednesday’s siege.
WASHINGTON DC, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES - 2021/01/06: Pro-Trump protesters break windows ... [+]
Key Facts
FBI Norfolk reportedly warned that extremists were sharing maps of the Capitol complex’s tunnel system and arranging meet-up points for those traveling from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and South Carolina.
“As of 5 January 2021, FBI Norfolk received information indicating calls for violence,” reads a section of the report, according to the Post, which goes on to describe detailed plans for the attack: “An online thread discussed specific calls for violence to include stating ‘Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and Pantifa slave soldiers being spilled.”
An unnamed FBI agent told the Post that the report was shared with others within the bureau—including officials within the FBI’s Washington field office—soon after the online thread was identified, an account that the FBI did not immediately verify in response to questions from Forbes.
This internal document appears to contradict statements made by the head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Steven D’Antuono, who told reporters last week that “there was no indication” of anything planned on Jan. 6 “other than First-Amendment protected activity.”
Crucial Quote
“Get violent. Stop calling this a march, or rally, or a protest. Go there ready for war,” reads the online thread cited in the FBI report. “We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal.”
Key Background
NBC News also reported contradictions in D'Antuono’s public statements earlier this week, citing several anonymous senior law enforcement officials who said that the FBI and New York City Police Department had both passed information to the U.S. Capitol Police about the possibility of violence during the protests.
Further Reading
“FBI report warned of ‘war’ at Capitol, contradicting claims there was no indication of looming violence” (The Washington Post)
“FBI, NYPD told Capitol Police about possibility of violence before riot, senior officials say” (NBC News)
