FBI warns of more armed violence across US over inauguration

Evidence of ‘extensive’ planning for protests as US braces for possibility of nationwide violence around Biden inauguration.

Razor wire on top of the fencing that now surrounds the US Capitol ahead of the January 20 inauguration. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

The FBI has warned of “extensive” planning for protests as the US braces for the possibility of nationwide violence around Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, sought to assuage fears that law enforcement will be caught out as badly as when President Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol last week.

Mr Biden will be sworn in as US president on Wednesday (Thursday Australian time) in front of the Capitol, two weeks after far-right agitators laid siege to the complex, leading to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

At a briefing with Mike Pence, the US Vice-President, whom some of the rioters wanted to see hanged, Mr Wray said the FBI was “seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter”. He warned of “potential armed protests”, both in Washington DC and state capitals.

But he said: “Anybody who plots or attempts violence in the coming weeks should count on a visit.”

Though coronavirus restrictions mean there will not be the usual crowd, the threat of domestic terrorism has resulted in more security than ever for an inauguration, with more than 21,000 National Guard personnel deployed.

Members of the Virginia National Guard carry weapons outside the US Capitol on Friday. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Even with such a large and visible presence, with road closures and checkpoints stretching miles from the Capitol, a rehearsal scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) has been postponed because of security concerns. It will now take place on Monday, giving officials more time to secure the site.

Given that the threat posed by hardline pro-Trump supporters is unlikely to dissipate after Mr Biden is sworn in, some experts believe that extra security could become a permanent fixture. The streets surrounding the Capitol and other political buildings are generally open, in part as a symbolic reminder of popular consent for the government.

President-elect Joe Biden speaks in Delaware during the week. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Outside the Capitol fences now enclose an area that was popular on jogging routes or for dog walking.

Concrete barriers block roads leading up to the White House, intensifying extra security measures which were introduced in the wake of the protests following the death of George Floyd in May and June. At the Washington Monument tours have been halted and a fence encircles its surrounding lawn, a popular gathering place.

Instead of the usual balls and parties across Washington, Mr Biden’s accession will be celebrated by a two-hour prime-time variety show hosted by Tom Hanks, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington.

Jonathan Hoffman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said that the defence department’s “commitment is to provide the support necessary through the inauguration, past the inauguration as the new administration sees fit and if a threat exists. We’re not looking at January 20 as the last day and then we can pack up and go home.”

Bill Hoagland, a senior vice-president at the Bipartisan Policy Centre, told the McClatchy DC news service: “I don’t know if those fences will ever come down. I pray they do come down. But obviously we’re going to need something in addition to what we put up there after [9/11]”.

A woman takes a photo with her cell phone of the wire fencing that surrounds the US Capitol. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Alarming details have emerged of how much worse the Capitol attack might have been. A group made it on to the Senate floor a minute after Mr Pence, whom they loathed for refusing to collude in plans to subvert Mr Biden’s victory, was escorted out with his wife and daughter, according to a reconstruction by The Washington Post.

Among the wider group of agitators that day were dozens on the FBI’s terrorist watch list.

Michael Fanone, 40, a Washington DC police officer, said: “We weren’t battling 50 or 60 rioters. We were battling 15,000 people. It looked like a medieval battle scene.”

Eventually Mr Fanone was pulled into the crowd, beaten and Tasered.

He suffered a mild heart attack and drifted in and out of consciousness. Feeling rioters trying to take his gun and ammunition while the crowd chanted “USA” over and over, Mr Fanone heard one shout: “We got one! We got one! Kill him with his own gun!”

Mr Fanone considered shooting people but decided that doing so would “definitely give them the justification they were looking for to kill me”.

Mr Fanone appealed to his assailants’ humanity, telling them he had four daughters. Eventually some formed a ring of protection before one of his colleagues could extricate him.

Daniel Hodges, an officer seen crushed against a door, said: “The zealotry of these people is absolutely unreal … there were points where I thought it was possible I could either die or become seriously disfigured.”

A Pew survey released at the weekend suggested that 29 per cent approved of Mr Trump, his lowest score ever, compared to 68 per cent who disapproved. Among Republicans his approval rating has slumped to 60 per cent, compared to 77 per cent late last year.

Mr Pence phoned Kamala Harris on Thursday to congratulate her on her election as vice-president, the first time they have spoken since October.

The Times