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The FBI has warned of a spike in violent threats after their search of Donald Trump's home. Here’s what we know

Authorities have warned of a spike in violent threats in the days since Trump's residence was searched. (AP: Julia Nikhinson)

There's growing concern in the US about threats against federal law enforcement officials after the FBI's search of Donald Trump's Florida home.

Both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have warned of a spike in violent threats being posted online, in the days since the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate was searched.

Here's what the FBI has confirmed so far. 

What kind of threats are being made?

The DHS has confirmed it sent a bulletin on Friday about the threats, but declined to share it in full. However, multiple US media outlets have reported on the bulletin's contents.

"The FBI and DHS have observed an increase in threats to federal law enforcement and, to a lesser extent, other law enforcement and government officials following the FBI's recent execution of a search warrant in Palm Beach, Florida," the bulletin said, according to a CBS report.

Among concerns cited in the memo was "a threat to place a so-called dirty bomb in front of FBI Headquarters and issuing general calls for 'civil war' and 'armed rebellion'."

US agencies have identified "multiple articulated threats and calls for the targeted killing of judicial, law enforcement and government officials associated with the Palm Beach search, including the federal judge who approved the Palm Beach search warrant."

The bulletin also detailed that most threats were occurring online, according to news reports.

Elsewhere, the former president and a number of his supporters in Congress have condemned the seizure of documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate … accusing the FBI of being corrupt and politically motivated.

The FBI has declined to confirm the existence of the bulletin, but said: "The FBI is always concerned about violence and threats of violence to law enforcement."

What has the reaction been?

Mr Trump, his allies, some Republicans in Congress and many conservative pundits have responded with anger directed at the FBI and officials involved in the investigation of Mr Trump, and messages to their supporters claiming, without evidence, that the FBI would target them next.

Some Trump allies have compared the FBI to the "Gestapo", others are calling for its funding to be halted, and some accused the agency of being politically motivated.

Some Trump supporters have turned on law enforcement, with one man killed after trying to break into the FBI's Cincinnati office. (Reuters: Marco Bello)

Politicians on both sides have called for calm amid increased threats of violence.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar says Donald Trump and some of his supporters are inflaming the situation by attacking the integrity of law enforcement agencies.

"This kind of rhetoric is very dangerous to our country," she said. 

Republican representative and former FBI agent Brian Fitzpatrick has also called for calm, including from the former president.

Republican representative Michael McCaul also said that sort of threatening language was inflammatory, saying no law enforcement should find itself "in the bullseye".

What's the latest on the FBI raid?

Republicans have stepped up calls for the release of an FBI affidavit showing the justification for its seizure of documents at Mr Trump's Florida residence.

The warrant — made public on Friday, local time, after the unprecedented search last Monday — allowed investigators to discover that Mr Trump had 11 sets of classified documents at his home, and that the Justice Department had probable cause to conduct the search based on possible Espionage Act violations.

The unsealing of such affidavits is highly unusual and would require approval from a federal judge.

"I think a releasing [of] the affidavit would help, at least that would confirm that there was justification for this raid," Republican Senator Mike Rounds told NBC.

"The Justice Department should 'show that this was not just a fishing expedition, that they had due cause to go in and to do this, that they did exhaust all other means'," Mr Rounds said.

"And if they can't do that, then we've got a serious problem on our hands."

ABC/wires

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