Washington DC and every US state has been put on alert for violent protests ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration as president.
Supporters of outgoing president Donald Trump and far-right groups have called for armed demonstrations and a march in Washington DC on inauguration day on Wednesday. Homeland Security said that a rehearsal for the inauguration today would be delayed until tomorrow due to security threats.
Meanwhile, the FBI has received information warning of armed protests in all 50 states. A joint threat assessment from the FBI and Homeland Security has warned that attackers could target government buildings and public officials.
It said that extremists “remain a concern due to their ability to act with little to no warning, willingness to attack civilians and soft targets, and ability to inflict significant casualties with weapons that do not require specialized knowledge”.
Nearly 25,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in Washington after Trump supporters overran the Capitol building 11 days ago as politicians were certifying election results in Biden’s victory over Trump.
The inauguration traditionally attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators, but National Mall, where people gather to witness the swearing in of the president, has been closed to the public until Thursday.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe