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The Right-Wing Extremist Threat in Context: Internal Extremist Actors

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Scott Stewart
VP of Tactical Analysis, Stratfor

Mar 10, 2020 | 11:00 GMT

A collection of weapons and ammunition federal agents say they found in the apartment of a member of the U.S. Coast Guard accused of plotting a major terror attack against Americans.

A collection of weapons and ammunition federal agents say they found in the apartment of a member of the U.S. Coast Guard accused of plotting a major terror attack against Americans.

(Photo by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland via Getty Images)

Highlights

  • Insiders have an advantage over outsiders when planning an attack on a company or organization due to their intimate knowledge of security measures, policies and procedures. 
  • But insiders also have a disadvantage in that their co-workers have more contact with them, and can note as they progress through the attack cycle or along the pathway to violence. 
  • Educating employees about warning signs and preparatory activities can empower them to help detect and report them.

While there have been a number of highly publicized cases involving military personnel who were violent right-wing extremists such as the Coast Guard officer above, or the Canadian army reservist arrested in Maryland along with other members of "The Base" in January, the threat is by no means limited to the military. Right-wing extremist insiders also pose a threat to companies and organizations, especially given how past attackers such as the Christchurch mosque attacker and the El Paso Walmart shooter have promoted attacks against business executives and their companies. Let's examine some ways that companies and organizations can protect themselves against extremist insiders....

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