White supremacists are “most persistent threat” says report on second anniversary of deadly antisemitic Pittsburgh attack, as hero police officer who defended Synagogue congregants returns to duty

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a report warning that white supremacists are the primary threat facing the United States.

The report was released on 6th October just ahead of the two-year anniversary of the white-supremacist, antisemitic terrorist attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue in which eleven people were killed. The alleged assailant, Robert Bowers, is currently on trial.

The second anniversary of the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue, which took place on 27th October 2018, also marks the return to duty of the Police Officer who heroically defended congregants, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Police officer Timothy Matson was shot seven times in the attack. He returned to duty last week following extensive rehabilitation for his injuries and amid acclaim for his heroism that included a ‘Shield of Israel’ award and the Police Department’s ‘Act of Valour’ award.

The Department of Homeland Security report states that “racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists…specifically white supremacist extremists…will remain the most persistent and lethal threat…”.

In his foreword to the report, Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, wrote:  “I am particularly concerned about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years.”

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