PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- The FBI is warning law enforcement agencies around the country that there are plans for armed protests in all 50 state capitals and Washington, D.C., in the days ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
The FBI’s concerns were laid out in a memo, which ABC News first reported. There are plans for armed protesters to take to all 50 capitol buildings and the U.S. Capitol, starting later this week and lasting through the Jan. 20 inauguration. Sources also say extremists are calling people to storm court houses if President Donald Trump is removed from office before the inauguration.
Retired FBI special agent J.J. Klaver says the scope of this kind of operation is unprecedented.
"Obviously it has to be evaluated whether or not these groups or organizations could muster enough people in all 50 states to carry out attacks but the threat has to be taken seriously," Klaver said Tuesday morning.
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The FBI issued at least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, an official told the Associated Press.
Klaver says what happened at the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday likely emboldened others to follow suit.
"Groups that are looking to do harm to governments -- federal or state governments -- and attack government facilities, see that breakdown in security and see the success that the group who attacked had."
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He says it’s helpful that some of this chatter has been cut off on social media platforms, but isn’t enough to deter those looking to do harm.
"These types of activities occurred before the advent of these social media platforms, and they’ll continue after," Klaver said. "These groups will find a way to communicate and share information."
There have been dozens of arrests around the country connected to last week's deadly insurrection. The FBI reports receiving 45,000 digital media tips, and the bureau continues to ask the public for help.
"While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is supporting our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the communities we serve," the bureau said in a statement. "Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity."
The FBI said it wasn't focused on peaceful protests but "on those threatening their safety and the safety of other citizens with violence and destruction of property."
The riots in Washington followed weeks of online calls for violence in the waning days of Trump's presidency. At least two Capitol police officers, one who took a selfie with rioters, and another who put on a Make America Great Again hat, were suspended. At least a dozen more are under investigation, according to lawmakers.
The talk of armed marches next week isn't limited to "radicalized" Trump supporters. State capital events on Jan. 17 appear to be promoted by supporters of the anti-government, pro-gun "boogaloo" movement. Boogaloo followers advocate for a second civil war or the collapse of society, and they don't adhere to a coherent political philosophy.
Posts on social media sites also have promoted a "Million Militia March" on the day of Biden's inauguration. Pitcavage said the event, apparently organized by a promoter of the pro-Trump "QAnon" conspiracy theory, appears unlikely to draw a massive crowd.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.