Biggest security threat from ‘lone actors’ during inauguration, US Capitol Police say

“Lone actors” pose the biggest threat to security during upcoming presidential inauguration events, according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger.

He referenced two incidents last week on Capitol Hill where people tried to “disrupt” congressional proceedings with potentially violent tactics.

An estimated 250,000 ticketed guests will attend the formal opening on Jan. 20, according to law enforcement.

This will be supplemented with another 25,000, which law enforcement we hope he will attend several demonstrations that will be held around the Capitol on the day of the inauguration. The inauguration and its accompanying events have been designated a “Special National Security Event,” the highest federally protected status an event can receive, officials said.

“I think the biggest threat to all of us is still the lone actor,” Manger said Monday. “Last week, while President Carter was in state, we had two lone actors show up at the Capitol: One. trying to carry knives and a machete; another who tried – what I think – to disturb the proceedings setting fire to his car in the area of ​​the circle of peace”.

“The Capitol Police were able to interdict these people before they had a chance to do any harm. But this lone actor threat remains the primary justification for us being on this heightened alert for the week ahead.”

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Manger’s remarks came Monday during a news conference with federal and local law enforcement officials, including leaders from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Secret Service, the FBI and the US Capitol Police, during the which they discussed their preparation for the inauguration.

Representing the FBI was the deputy director in charge of the agency’s Washington field office, David Sundberg, who said the FBI “is not currently tracking any specific or credible threats to the inauguration ceremony or the complex of the Capitol”.

The upcoming week of events will be secured in a similar fashion to last week’s two high-profile national security special events, the presidential election certification and the afternoon. The funeral of President Jimmy Carter, indicated authorities. However, the inauguration will get a little extra support from roughly 4,000 local police who have volunteered to help and about 7,800 National Guard troops who will be deployed to the nation’s capital. In all, according to Secret Service special agent in charge of the agency’s Washington field office, Matt McCool, a total of about 25,000 law enforcement officers will be on duty.

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The inauguration will get additional concrete barriers and more than 30 miles of anti-escalation fencing, which is more than has been used for any special national security event in the past.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith said the district expects to see 12 different ones first amendment demonstrations during the inauguration. Smith said that while the MPD will “guarantee your right to peacefully protest,” they “will not tolerate any violence.”

“I want to reiterate, as I always have, that violence, destruction and illegal behavior will not be tolerated,” Smith said Monday. “Offenders will face swift and decisive consequences.”

When asked by a reporter what the biggest difference was between this inauguration and the last one in 2021, McCool said there is a “slightly more robust security plan.”

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“We learned,” McCool said. “This is our fifth NSSE this year in the Washington field office. We’ve done 83 NSSEs, each one we review, and if there are areas where we need to improve, we do. But what I can tell you is that we are 100% confident in the plan we have put in place for this inauguration that the public and our wards will be safe.”