WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is creating a new position to coordinate investigations into violent homegrown extremism.
John Carlin, head of the department’s national security division, announced the new position at a speech Wednesday at George Washington University.
He said in his remarks that the new Domestic Terrorism Counsel will serve as the main point of contact for U.S. Attorney offices nationwide. The new official will work to identify trends that can be used to help shape a national strategy.
Though Carlin routinely speaks about the threat posed by the Islamic State, his speech Wednesday was more focused on violent extremists inspired by racist and anti-government ideologies.
He noted that more Americans have been killed in recent years in attacks by domestic extremists than in attacks associated with international terrorist groups.
In July, a lone gunman from Hixson killed five U.S. service members in an attack on two military sites in Chattanooga.