Colorado’s homeland security remains on high alert for domestic extremism

DENVER (KDVR) — Because the hearings into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot start in Washington, FOX31 is listening to from Colorado’s Division of Homeland Safety.

After the Jan. 6 assaults, the division put out an alert concerning the heightened risk of home extremism right here in Colorado. The Downside Solvers are asking. Is the state at that very same stage now?

Homeland Safety Chief Kevin Klein burdened that regardless that Jan. 6 occurred in one other state and effectively over 500 days in the past, officers in Colorado are nonetheless on excessive alert.

So is Colorado at an enhanced stage of safety?

“I might say that’s truthful to say,” Klein stated. “I believe the risk has elevated over the previous couple of years and I don’t know that it’s any extra pronounced than it was on January sixth. However it’s nonetheless very, very actual and a really actual risk that all of us must take severely.”

Rise in Colorado hate crime ‘substantial’

He revealed to the Downside Solvers that the state of Colorado investigated a troubling rise of hate crime instances, even earlier than the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol.

“That’s been fairly substantial. I believe that leads into our concern with identity-based violence and the way that will play out,” Klein stated. “So that’s one factor that we’ve undoubtedly seen in Colorado.”

Klein stated a whole lot of what the state and nation are seeing concerning home extremism is a results of on-line rhetoric and the place folks eat their data.

“It simply considerations us when that rhetoric ramps up, which then can inspire folks to take motion,” he defined. “We noticed that January sixth after which we see that in particular person acts of home terrorism, corresponding to we noticed in Buffalo.”

Colorado officers stay on excessive alert because the nation continues to grapple with how one can fight home extremism.