With 21,000 National Guard soldiers soon deployed and entire neighborhoods entrenched, Washington is under heavy surveillance amid threats of further demonstrations by Donald Trump supporters ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony on January 20. .
“We are concerned about the risks of violence during the numerous demonstrations planned in the coming days in Washington and in front of government buildings in the states,” which could attract armed individuals, FBI Director Christopher Wray explained Thursday.
During a meeting with outgoing vice president Mike Pence, Wray mentioned “a significant number of disturbing discussions on the internet.”
“Currently, we are monitoring calls for armed demonstrations and actions between now and the inauguration,” of which we must assess which are serious threats, he said.
The police and army are being heavily criticized for their lack of preparation during the demonstration of the supporters of the outgoing president on January 6. Several hundred eventually invaded the Capitol, wreaking havoc in the heart of America’s democracy. At least five people, including a police officer, were killed in the riots.
The invasion led to the impeachment of Trump in Congress Wednesday for “inciting insurrection.” The ten Republican legislators who voted in favor have since then received enhanced protection.
“Colleagues are now traveling with armed escorts,” one of them, Peter Meijer, told MSNBC on Thursday. “We think there are people who might try to kill us,” he added.
According to a recent internal FBI report, cited by US media, an “identified armed group” is preparing to “raid” government buildings in all 50 US states and in the capital in the next few days until the inauguration of the Democratic president.
The FBI especially mentions the far-right Boogaloo movement, which advocates civil war to overthrow the government, and cites credible threats in the states of Michigan and Minnesota.
Several states took precautionary measures by mobilizing additional law enforcement personnel to protect government headquarters.
In the federal capital, Washington, 21,000 National Guardsmen will be mobilized for the inauguration, which means more soldiers than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, General Daniel Hokanson, head of the Pentagon’s National Guard office, said Thursday.
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The reservists’ mission is limited, however, to logistical support to the police and they will only be authorized “as a last resort” to make arrests, according to the Defense Department.
Although these soldiers are armed.
Trump also confirmed Wednesday that he had been informed of “potential threats” regarding the demonstrations “in the coming days, in Washington and in the country.”
The outgoing president called his supporters to calm, underscoring the right of Americans to demonstrate peacefully. “I urge that there be no violence, no crimes and no vandalism,” he asked on Wednesday.
In Washington, as well as in the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia, authorities are doing their best to dissuade the public from attending the inauguration, which will take place on the steps of Congress.
The streets of the city center were guarded by the police on Thursday and protected by gates, sometimes topped with barbed wire – as around the Capitol – and with concrete blocks.
Car traffic and transportation will also be affected by the security device.
The authorities are also considering closing the vast lawn of the National Mall to the public, where thousands of visitors usually crowd to witness the inauguration live.
The supply of accommodation will be limited due to the probable closure of certain hotels, estimated on Wednesday the Democratic mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, who had already asked Americans not to travel to the capital for the inauguration.
The private home rental platform Airbnb announced on Wednesday the cancellation and blocking of reservations in the capital during the week of the investiture.
Meanwhile, the airline company Delta warned on Thursday that passengers flying to the capital will not be able to carry a weapon in their luggage as of Saturday.
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