Rising political violence targets government entities, staff

WASHINGTON —

As investigators work to uncover the motive behind the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there are growing concerns about political violence in the United States. Researchers say the numbers prove political violence is on the rise, and they warn of a dangerous and volatile inflection point for the country.

From political protests to threats and harassment, to violent attacks, researchers say the frequency of these incidents are up across the board. But the most alarming trend, they say, is the intended target. Advertisement

... this is a really dangerous environment."

Researchers at the University of Maryland reported that 35% of all terror events tracked in the first half of 2025 were directed at government staff or facilities , more than double compared to 2024.

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