SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Security has been tightened around the U.S. Capitol in Washington – scene of a deadly assault in January – after police warned that a militia group might try to attack it on Thursday.
U.S. police said on Wednesday that they had bolstered security in Washington after intelligence uncovered a possible plot to “breach the Capitol” on Thursday, according to AFP.
March 4 is the day when believers in the baseless QAnon conspiracy have claimed that former President Donald Trump, defeated by President Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 election, will be sworn for a second term in office, Reuters reported.
U.S. presidents were inaugurated on March 4 until 1933.
The police force that guards the U.S. Capitol, seat of the legislature, said in a statement that it had “taken immediate steps to enhance our security posture and staffing for a number of days, to include March 4.”
“We have already made significant security upgrades to include establishing a physical structure and increasing manpower to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police officers,” the police force said, adding it is “taking the intelligence seriously.”
Washington’s police chief, Robert Contee, said on Wednesday his department was deploying more police around the city to ensure public safety.
The U.S. House of Representatives will not be in session on Thursday, in part because of the threat of militia members attempting to invade the Capitol, according to a Democratic aide.
The threat comes nearly two months after Trump supporters, including QAnon followers, stormed the Capitol building and laid siege to Congress, in an attack that left five people dead and shook the citadel of American democracy.
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 300 people for involvement in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 that led to five deaths, including a policeman. Those arrested include members of armed militia groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters.
