The violent events of January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol are part of a troubling trend of election-related unrest. Similar incidents worldwide, such as the murder of an opposition candidate’s brother in Turkey and violent election rallies in Bangladesh, highlight the increasing severity of election-linked violence. Social media and disinformation exacerbate these tensions, fueling radicalisation and potentially deadly attacks. With numerous elections worldwide, emotionally charged issues and the accessibility of weapons, particularly in countries like the US, further heighten the risks. Businesses must proactively manage these threats to protect their employees and stakeholders, emphasising preparedness and effective crisis management.

Fighting with police, metal barriers launched by angry crowds, officers throwing tear gas grenades into protestors – these are all memories of the unrest in Washington during the 6th January 2021 Capitol Hill riots. The ugly scenes of the mob attack were beamed across the world, painting a picture of increasing animosity and bitterness following the US presidential election of Joe Biden the previous year.

While it would be easy to disregard these events as a one-off attack from the far right, these images of violence and bloodshed are just some of the most high profile of a trend that has become increasingly commonplace in the lead-up and aftermath of…