The FBI has warned of an increased threat of violence among QAnon followers, who it says may move from being “digital soldiers” to engaging in “real-world violence.”
The threat assessment was sent to lawmakers last week and obtained by several US news outlets,.
In it, the agency claims the inauguration of President Joe Biden and the disappearance of the leader of QAnon has seen some adherents leave the movement.
But it fears others may no longer “trust the plan” and take matters into their own hands, “instead of continually awaiting Q’s promised actions which have not occurred.”
QAnon is a conspiracy theory that was born on the message board 4chan in 2017 and then moved to 8Chan and 8Kun, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
A person dressed as Lady Liberty wears a shirt with the letter Q, referring to QAnon, as protesters take part in a protest, on 6 January. Source: AP
The conspiracy began with an anonymous poster named “Q”, who claimed to have a high-level security clearance in the US government, posting so-called ‘clues’ to followers.
Adherents of QAnon believe a cabal of satanic pedophiles are secretly running the world and sex trafficking children, according to ISD researcher Elise Thomas.
Ms Thomas said followers of QAnon regarded former US President Donald Trump as a saviour who was leading the fight against the cabal during his presidency.
“[They believed] he would reclaim the world in the name of patriots and eliminate something called ‘the storm’, which would lead to the Great Awakening.”
Ms Thomas said ‘Q’ hasn’t posted since last December, but that hasn’t stopped the movement from changing shape and becoming a stew of conspiratorial beliefs.
She believes there is a legitimate concern that some of the most radical followers may decide they are “the storm” and turn to violence.
“A lot of those kinds of more mainstream people have dropped off, or they've gone into other areas,” she said.
“But what you have left is a fairly hardcore of people who are really deeply into it, some of whom would qualify as radicalised, and others, are going through various mental health issues.”
A man wrapped in a QAnon flag addresses supporters of US President Donald Trump as they protest in Arizona. Source: Getty
In its threat assessment, the FBI says it had arrested more than 20 QAnon followers who participated in the Capitol insurrection.
“These individuals were charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct in a restricted building and obstruction of an official proceeding, according to court documents and press reporting based on court documentation, public statements, and social media posts," the assessment reads.
Ms Thomas said another event like the storming of the US Capitol is unlikely and that the threat lies in radicalised lone individuals.
A QAnon supporter outside the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Source: STRMX
Australia has the fourth-largest online community of QAnon supporters, following the US, UK and Canada, according to ISD.
Ms Thomas told The Feed we should treat those who’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and become immersed with conspiracy theories with compassion.
“During the pandemic, we’ve seen an explosion of conspiratorial beliefs, which is largely linked to the increase of mental health stresses and pressures,” Ms Thomas said.
“QAnon ruins people’s lives.”
“It ruins them financially it ruins them professionally, it ruins their relationships. And that's why and that's why I think you need the public health issue.”
