Washington, United States
The Pentagon announced on Monday that it has authorized the deployment of 15,000 National Guard personnel for the inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden on Jan. 20, amid fears of more violence from supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.
There are already 6,200 members of the Security guard active in Washington and a total of 10,000 are expected next weekend, while another 5,000 could be added on the day of Biden’s inauguration, said General Daniel Hokanson, chief of the Defense Department’s National Guard.
They will all be equipped with anti-riot gear and weapons, but so far they have not been allowed to wear them while on the streets of the American capitalhe explained.
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At the moment it is her mission to support the local police in the areas of communication, logistics and security, he explains.
Allow the National Guard to deploy Armed forces and arrests would be a “last resort” if the security situation got out of hand, Hokanson said.
The Pentagon and the National Guard, The reserve force was criticized for a slow response on Wednesday, when the US Congress headquarters, the Capitol, was raided by thousands of Trump supporters who overwhelmed a compound security force without adequate personnel or adequate preparation. The unleashed chaos left five dead.
But Pentagon officials say the National Guard was summoned too late and without an immediate riot police force.
“They didn’t expect that violence,” said Hokanson.
Earlier, in anticipation of the potential tensions surrounding Biden’s inauguration, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser asked the general population to refrain from visiting the capital.
“We ask the Americans” not to come ” Washington DC for the 59th presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 and that they participate virtually instead, ”he said.