Reuters | Washington | Published 20.01.21, 01:36 AM
Central Washington is an armed fortress, fenced off with razor wire and surrounded by 25,000 National Guard troops ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, a stark contrast to previous inaugurations, when the US capital erupted in days of celebration.
The Covid-19 pandemic had already cancelled the inaugural balls. Now the National Mall is closed to the public due to threats of violence from groups who attacked the US Capitol on January 6. Almost none of the public will witness first-hand the transition of power, souring the mood of Washingtonians.
“It’s like a ghost town but with soldiers,” said Dana O’Connor, who walked with her husband past concrete barriers near the White House on Sunday.“It’s eerie. It feels super unnatural.”
National Guard soldiers with links to extremist groups removed from patrolling Biden s inauguration
FBI has vetted 250,000 soldiers and are looking into whether any US Capitol rioters were current members of the military
20 January 2021 • 3:54am
Two National Guard soldiers have been removed from patrolling Joe Biden s inauguration after it was discovered they had links to extremist groups.
The FBI has been helping the US military undertake the vetting of soldiers since last week.
Agents were also looking into whether any rioters who invaded the US Capitol on Jan 6 were current members of the military.
Last week, it emerged that an off-duty police officer, who was also a corporal in the National Guard, had been charged over the Capitol attack.
American politics expert on Trump s decision to skip onenewspage.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from onenewspage.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Washington a ghost town with soldiers ahead of Biden inauguration
After deadly assault on the Capitol by pro-Trump mob, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser says that law enforcement officials had no choice but to ramp up security ahead of Jan. 20 ceremony already hampered by COVID-19 restrictions
Reuters |
Published: 01.19.21 , 14:11
Central Washington is an armed fortress, fenced off with razor wire and surrounded by 25,000 National Guard troops ahead of President-elect Joe Biden s inauguration on Wednesday, a stark contrast to previous inaugurations, when the United States capital erupted in days of celebration.
The COVID-19 pandemic had already canceled the inaugural balls. Now the National Mall is closed to the public due to threats of violence from groups who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.