The FBI on Monday warned of possible armed protests in Washington DC and all 50 state capitals of the United States ahead of inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, news agency Reuters reported.
The report quoted an FBI source as saying that the warnings were from January 16 and at least through January 20 for state capitals and for the three days leading up to Inauguration Day in Washington DC.
Amid the threats of violence from the supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, the National Guard is going to send around 15,000 troops to Washington D.C. and meanwhile, until 24 January, tourists are barred from visiting the Washington Monument.
Even as the country scrambles due to Wednesday's violence by Trump supporters at Capitol Hill, the President-elect's inaugural ceremony would be "America United", said the inaugural committee.
According to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel Hokanson, about 10,000 troops are expected to be in Washington by Saturday and their focus would be on security logistics and communications. He also added that there are possibilities the number of troops increases up to 15,000.
Biden, who was talking to reporters in Newark, Delaware said, "I'm not afraid of taking the oath outside," while referring to the traditional setting for the swearing-in ceremony.
He also said that "It was critically important that people who engaged in sedition and threatened people's lives, defaced public property, caused great damage to be held accountable."
In its statement, the inaugural committee of the president said that "The theme of the inaugural ceremony reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America echoing Biden's campaign pledge to heal the country's divisions."
Joe Biden, who won the November 2020 Presidential Election against the sitting President Donald Trump, will hold the office from January 20, 2021.
