National Guard troops descend on Washington DC as tensions flare ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration
Authorities and businesses are taking extreme steps to protect the US capital ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration.
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Tensions were rising across the US as authorities tried to shut down access to Washington DC ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration.
As local authorities called on Americans to stay home ahead of anticipated violence in the capital in coming days, Airbnb cancelled any bookings across the city for next week and Donald Trump called on his supporters to stand down.
Hundreds of National Guard troops are already embedded at the US Capitol, with photos capturing them sleeping on the floor of the building ahead of Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump.
In a video posted from the White House, Mr Trump also repeated warnings about the huge security force in place ahead of next week’s events.
“I want to be very clear: I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last week,” he says in the video.
“Like all of you I was shocked and deeply saddened by the calamity that unfolded at the Capitol.
“No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence.
“We cannot tolerate it.
“Whether you are on the right or on the left, a Democrat or a Republican, there is never a justification for violence.
“Everybody must follow our laws and obey the instructions of law enforcement.”
It came as more charges laid by investigators following last week’s violence revealed how close the incursion had come to mass bloodshed.
Authorities have arrested more than 70 people and opened cases against almost 200 identified in photos and videos of the riot.
In New York, riot participant Eduard Florea, 40, was arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Ask Force with dozens of weapons.
The Proud Boys member faced Brooklyn Federal Court after police seized 75 military-grade knives, more than a thousand hollow point rounds of ammunition and a series of swords.
He was arrested after threatening online to take an armed caravan to Washington DC in coming days, according to the New York Post.
Another man who captured headlines last week when he was photographed in a shirt with the words “Camp Auschwitz” in the siege was also arrested Wednesday.
The FBI identified him as Robert Packer, 56, of Virginia.
Officials in the US capital have increased the number of National Guard troops from 15,000 to 20,000 over coming days.
This is more than twice the number of troops on the ground in Afghanistan.
They have also closed down vast areas of Washington DC, with a bolstered “security zone” that includes the White House, Washington Mall, the Capitol building and several downtown areas.
The security measures will remain in place past Inauguration Day.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser repeated her warning for members of the public to avoid the downtown area in the next week, closing off parking garages from tomorrow.
“While we know this is very inconvenient for our residents and businesses, I want to say thank you for your cooperation and flexibility,” she said.
“Clearly, we are in uncharted waters, and it is very important we work with all of our partners to secure these events and secure these parts of our city.”
Meanwhile accommodation giant Airbnb cancelled all its bookings for the next week in the capital.
“We also will reimburse hosts, at Airbnb’s expense, the money they would have earned from these cancelled reservations. HotelTonight reservations also will be cancelled,” the company said.
With right-wing militias threatening a “Million Militia March” next week, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have warned of protests by armed demonstrators in Washington DC and in state capitals from Sunday.
Originally published as National Guard troops descend on Washington DC as tensions flare ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration
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