HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (1010 WINS) – The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has boosted the state's threat level for white supremacist extremists from moderate to high—its highest level.
The only other group at the highest level in the state is "homegrown violent extremists," according to the "2020 Terrorism Threat Assessment" report released Friday and reported by NorthJersey.com.
"The ever-changing threat landscape in New Jersey and around the country requires us to adjust our strategies to anticipate new threats while remaining ready to combat those already existing," Jared M. Maples, director of the Homeland Security office, said.
The increased threat level reflects attacks and alleged plots by white supremacists across the U.S. in 2019, including the shooting at an El Paso Walmart that killed 22 people and injured dozens more.
Among those arrested in New Jersey was a Sussex County man obsessed with Nazis who faces weapons and bias intimidation charges. A Camden County man has also been accused of calling for vandalism against synagogues and allegedly wanted to use a machete to attack black people at a mall in New Jersey.
The increased threat level also reflects a recent push by white supremacists to recruit new members in New Jersey and New York, with some 168 instances of white supremacist propaganda reported in New Jersey last year compared to 46 in 2018.
The report also indicates that officials have upped the alert level for black separatists from low to moderate after December's shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City.
Meanwhile, the threat level for ISIS was lowered from moderate to low over the lack of Islamic State–inspired attacks last year.
