United States: tension mounts in Washington a few days after Joe Biden's inauguration
Criticized for delaying the deployment of the National Guard during the January 6 violence in Washington, the Pentagon has authorized the deployment of up to 15,000 troops to the US capital for the swearing-in ceremony.
CHIP SOMODEVILLA GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
New calls to protest are starting to circulate on social networks and the mayor of Washington has asked Americans to participate in a virtual way in the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden.
Publicity
Read more
It is an internal document of the federal police which alerted the American media.
According to the FBI, supporters of Donald Trump are planning armed protests in all 50 state capitals of the country, as well as in Washington.
Protests that could begin at the end of this week and last until Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, scheduled for January 20 in Washington.
Additional staff in Washington
Faced with this threat, the authorities announced the deployment of additional personnel in an already cordoned off capital.
In addition to the 6,200 soldiers of the National Guard already present, a figure which will be raised to 10,000 next weekend, 5,000 soldiers should come as reinforcements for the ceremony scheduled for next week.
Donald Trump, who will not attend the nomination, accepted the mayor's request for a state of emergency to be declared upstream in order to obtain additional funds for security.
The FBI says it is focusing on demonstrations that pose a security threat and that could lead to violence and destruction, especially those that target local legislatures.
A concern heightened following the announcement on Tuesday, January 12 of the resignation of the interim head of internal security
Chad Wolf,
much criticized after
the events of last week on Capitol Hill
.
The nomination poses several unprecedented challenges that are beyond the scope of our usual preparations, with the Covid-19 pandemic and of course the domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol.
The District of Columbia asks the Department of Homeland Security to extend the period of national security decreed for this event from Monday January 11 to Sunday 24. I also ask the department to establish security and a plan for the deployment of federal forces to ensure the security of all federal property.
I also ask the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel all public events in the District of Columbia and deny all permits for requests for gatherings between January 11 and 24.
18 USA _His Mayor of Washington DC "protect the ceremonies of the 20" 7h
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Joe biden
Terrorism
Coronavirus