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| 10,000 U.S. National Guard personnel stand guard at the Capitol before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. (Reuters / Irene Scott) |
Washington, D.C., USA, is isolated and heavily guarded by more than 20,000 armed National Guard soldiers before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
Security measures were tightened in the wake of the deadly attack on Capitol Hill last Wednesday (1/6).
Police Chief Robert Conte said the U.S. capital faced a "significant security threat" after President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to thwart Biden's statement of victory, killing five people.
The day after Trump was impeached in Congress for allegedly supporting the attack, there were more barriers and barbed wire installed as part of a precaution.
Most of downtown Washington has also been closed to traffic.
Meanwhile, the agency responsible for security, the Secret Service, is considering shutting down the National Center entirely.
Usually, hundreds of thousands of people gather on the lawn at the National Mall to celebrate the new president's inauguration.Local security officials have warned that armed extremists loyal to Trump, who may be carrying explosives, pose a threat to Washington and the state capital over the next week.
"We are seeing a lot of worrying conversations online," FBI Director Chris Wray told Vice President Mike Pence in a televised statement.
"We are concerned about the possibility of violence erupting in the various protests planned here in the capital and the Capitol City across the country in the coming days, which may bring armed men closer to government buildings and officials," he said.
ABC News reported that an internal FBI bulletin warned that an armed group was planning to "storm" government offices in 50 states to protest Biden's inauguration.
"The FBI has received information about an armed group that has been identified as intending to travel to Washington, DC, on January 16," the bulletin said.
The New York Times reported that the FBI had alerted police departments across the country to stay alert for extremist activity and continue intelligence operations.
Not only that, several political figures have stepped up their safety, including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who revealed that he had received death threats.Peter Major, one of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on Wednesday, said he and other lawmakers are taking precautions such as providing body armor.
"I have colleagues who are now traveling in armed escorts out of fear for their safety," Majer told MSNBC. "We assume that someone might try to kill us."
