Police called to investigate suspicious package found near US Capitol, White House
Police were called to investigate a suspicious package found just eight kilometres from the White House and US Capitol in Washington DC.
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Police were called to investigate a suspicious package found just eight kilometres from the White House and US Capitol in Washington DC.
The Daily Mailreports that members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Explosive Ordinance Disposal were called to look into the item – which turned out to be a box of fireworks – on the 5000 block of Hayes St, NE at 2.15pm on Sunday, local time.
The area was cordoned off while the bomb squad investigated the package, the Department confirmed to The Mail.
“The investigation has concluded and revealed that the package was fireworks,” an MPD spokesperson said.
“There are currently traffic closures in place but (these) will be lifted shortly.”
The incident comes on the eve of the January 6 certification of the 2024 Presidential Election in Congress, and only weeks ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
It also comes ahead of the four-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, carried out by a mob of Trump supporters on the Capitol when Congress last gathered to count the certified electoral votes from then-incoming President Joe Biden.
Extra security has been put in place by police around the Capitol building ahead of Monday’s certification and Mr Trump’s inauguration.
US Senator Amy Klobuchar told CNN’s State of the Union she was confident the measures had prepared the city for “whatever might happen” on January 6.
“We have, as you know, a new police chief, increased morale, many hundreds of more officers, and we have a plan and a strategy in place,” she said.
“That’s not to say there aren’t threats all the time on members of Congress or on the Capitol, but I feel very strongly that we have made major shifts.”
Originally published as Police called to investigate suspicious package found near US Capitol, White House
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