Richmond police urge people to avoid State Capitol
Police patrolling around State Capitol ahead of Lobby Day By Henry Graff | January 17, 2021 at 8:19 PM EST - Updated January 17 at 8:27 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond police are urging people to avoid downtown in the area of the Virginia State Capitol.
Sunday, law enforcement spent time getting final security barriers in place. That includes additional crowd control fencing and dump trucks strategically placed.
Both Richmond and Virginia Capitol Police are out on the streets patrolling.
Sunday featured some people milling around the downtown area, taking photographs and curious about the unprecedented security measures.
News to Know for Jan. 18: State Capitol security; Inauguration update; Phase 1b vaccines begin Sunday, law enforcement spent time getting final security barriers in place. (Source: NBC12) By Adrianna Hargrove | January 18, 2021 at 6:47 AM EST - Updated January 18 at 6:47 AM
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Take a look at our top headlines before you head out the door.
Sunny With Breezy Afternoon
Today will be mostly sunny then partly sunny.
Then we’ll have a breezy afternoon with wind gusts around 20 mph likely. Lows near 30, highs around 50 degrees.
Forecast: Mainly dry for next 7 days
Men In Hospital After Shooting
Officers responded to the 1300 block of Coalter Street around 7:50 p.m. after hearing random gunfire. Police say emergency communications also received several calls about random gunfire on Jan. 17.
Businesses, police by Virginia State Capitol prepare for potential weekend threats Contractors board up windows of buildings in Downtown Richmond, by Virginia State Capitol. (Source: wwbt/nbc12) By Enzo Domingo and Brent Solomon | January 15, 2021 at 5:27 PM EST - Updated January 15 at 11:18 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia Capitol Police warded off drivers by the Virginia Supreme Court Building on Friday afternoon, as K-9 units hunted for any explosives inside after a bomb threat is called in around 1:30 p.m.
It’s a volatile time downtown as more plywood got hammered into place in the hopes of protecting buildings along Main Street this weekend. It’s just another precaution after threats of violence nationwide against state capitols.
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Annapolis and Richmond statehouse officials are tightening security after a warning of armed protests at all 50 state capitals and D.C. from the FBI this week.
Security officials at statehouses in Maryland and Virginia are bracing for the possibility of pro-Trump extremist groups attacking statehouses on Sunday and storming state, local, and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings if President Donald Trump is removed before the inauguration.
Meanwhile, both Maryland and Virginia legislators convened for the start of their sessions Wednesday with some meetings taking place in-person and others virtually due to the pandemic. Increased security measures at these locations come just one week after insurrectionists attacked the U.S. Capitol Building, leaving five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.
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States across the country are taking steps to tighten security at their capitol buildings following a warning by the FBI this week about potential armed protests ahead of President-elect Joe Biden s Wednesday inauguration.
Several states such as Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania have already seen demonstrations by frustrated pro-Trump supporters who believe the November election was rigged. Though most have been peaceful, the destruction and chaos that took place on Jan. 6 at the nation s Capitol have authorities worried about a repeat performance.
In the deadly siege, armed rioters pushed their way into the Capitol building, destroyed property, and tried to hunt down members of Congress. In all, five people were killed, including one officer.