WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. defense officials say they are concerned about an insider attack or other threat from members of staff involved in securing the election of President Joe Biden, who asked the FBI to kill all 25,000 National Army soldiers. Visiting Guard in Washington for the occasion.
The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary concern about the security that Washington seized after the deadly uprising on January 6 at the American Capitol by rioters. And it underscores the fear that some of the people who have to protect the city over the next few days could be a threat to the incoming president and other GDPs.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials were aware of the possible threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches. So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of threats, and officials said the investigation has not yet identified any issues.
“We are constantly going through the process and looking at the second, third look at each of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through a full three-hour security exercise. has. preparation for Wednesday’s inauguration. He said Guard members are also receiving training on identifying possible inside threats.
About 25,000 members of the national guard flock to Washington from across the country – at least two and a half times the number of previous inaugurations. And while the military regularly assesses service members for extremist connections, the FBI investigation is also a complement to any previous monitoring.
Several officials said the process began when the first Guard troops began deploying to DC more than a week ago. And they said it would be completed by Wednesday. Several officials discussed military planning on condition of anonymity.
‘The question is, is it all? Are there others? Said McCarthy. “We need to be aware of that and we need to put in place all the mechanisms to thoroughly veterinarian these men and women who will support such surgeries.”
In a situation like this, the FBI investigation would involve people’s names being managed through databases and watchlists maintained by the bureau to see if anything disturbing comes up. This could include involvement in previous investigations or terrorism-related problems, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security guard in Seattle.
Insider threats were a constant priority of law enforcement in the years following the attacks on September 11, 2001. But in most cases, the threats are from homemade insurgents radicalized by al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group or similar groups. In contrast, threats against Biden’s inauguration are fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump, far-right militants, white supremacists and other radical groups. Many believe Trump’s unfounded accusations that the election was stolen from him, a claim that has been refuted by many courts, the Department of Justice and Republican officials in key warring states.
The uprising at the Capitol began after Trump made riotous remarks on January 6. According to McCarthy, service members from across the military were at the protest, but it is not clear how many were there or who participated in the burglary at the Capitol. So far, only a few current members of the active service or national guard have been arrested in connection with the attack on Capitol, which left five people dead. The deceased include a Capitol police officer and a woman who was shot by police as she climbed through a window in a door near the living room.
Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, head of the National Guard Bureau, met with the guard troops as they arrived in DC and downtown. He said he believes there are good processes to identify potential threats.
“If there is any indication that any of our soldiers are uttering extremist things, it is either handed over to law enforcement, or the commando chain is dealt with immediately,” he said.
However, the internal threat was just one of the security issues voiced by officials Sunday, while dozens of military, national guards, law enforcement and Washington, DC, officials and commanders underwent a security exercise in northern Virginia. About three dozen leaders lined up tables with a massive DC color-coded card reflected on the floor. Behind them were dozens of other officers and staff of the National Guard, with their eyes on additional maps and maps displayed on the wall.
The Secret Service is responsible for securing opportunities, but there is a wide range of military and law enforcement personnel involved, ranging from the National Guard and the FBI to the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, the U.S. Capitol Police and the US Park Police.
Commanders went through every aspect of the city’s complex security shutdown, with McCarthy and others asking them questions about how the troops would respond in any scenario and how well they could communicate with the other agencies deployed in the city.
Hokanson said he believes his troops are adequately equipped and prepared, and that they practice as much as possible to be prepared for any contingency.
The biggest security issue is an attack by armed groups of individuals, as well as planted explosives and other devices. McCarthy said intelligence reports suggest groups are organizing armed rallies leading up to Inauguration Day, and possibly beyond.
Most of the guards will be armed. And McCarthy said units are going to practice repetitive exercises to practice when and how to use force and to work quickly with law enforcement partners. Law enforcers would be arrested.
He said that Guard units “are constantly undergoing mental repetitions to look at the map and talk to leaders through scenarios so that they understand their task and purpose, that they know their routes, they know where they are friendly, adjacent units, they have the appropriate frequencies to communicate with their law enforcement partners. ”
The most important goal, according to him, is that the transfer of power from America should take place without incident.
“It’s a national priority. We have to be successful as an institution, ”McCarthy said. “We want to send the message to everyone in the United States and to the rest of the world that we can do this safely and peacefully.”
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Associated Press author Eric Tucker contributed to this report.