Called Project Megiddo, the report is named after an ancient battleground in Israel cited in the Bible's New Testament as the apocalyptic setting for God's final battle against evil. Posted on the Internet, the report warns that the chief threat comes from religious believers in the apocalypse and political conspiracists who fear the United Nations has a secret plan, known as the New World Order, to conquer the world in 2000. Militias and racist followers of groups such as Christian Identity and Odinism also are girding for action, the FBI said in its report. The FBI says its ability to identify domestic terrorists is limited because many are lone wolves who shun traditional hierarchies and leave no obvious warnings of their intentions. Two prime examples are Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who were responsible for the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil when they bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City.
Violence is most likely to be perpetrated by radical fringe members of established groups.
If Y2K computer problems cause power failures or brownouts, members of militia groups may assume that the United Nations has begun a New World Order takeover, the FBI said. Similarly, if local governments cannot deliver benefits checks, it warns, civil unrest may result.