In US,13 arrested in plots to kidnap Michigan Governor

In US, thirteen people, including seven men associated with the Wolverine Watchmen militia group, have been arrested in alleged plots to kidnap the Michigan governor and attack the state capitol building, prosecutors said on Thursday.The group plotted to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and frequent target of Republican President Donald Trump's ire,  according to an FBI affidavit released on Thursday."Our efforts uncovered elaborate plans to endanger the lives of law enforcement officers, government officials and the broader public," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told a news conference.

Internal U.S. security memos in recent months have warned that violent domestic extremists could pose a threat to election-related targets, a concern exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, political tensions, civil unrest and foreign disinformation campaigns.Andrew Birge, the U.S. attorney for the western district of Michigan, said the FBI became aware through social media that a group of people were discussing the "violent overthrow" of Michigan's government, prompting a months-long investigation that relied on confidential sources within the group.Birge said law enforcement arrested several of the alleged conspirators "when they were meeting on the east side of the state to pool funds for explosives and exchange tactical gear."