Trump supporters want to 'blow up' Capitol, kill lawmakers: Police chief warns
Former US President Donald Trump’s supporters plan to “blow up” the US Capitol and kill members of Congress during an address by President Joe Biden, the acting chief of the Capitol Police warned on Thursday.
Yogananda Pittman warned lawmakers that threats suggested extremists who launched a deadly assault on the Capitol last month have indicated they want to target the building again.
“Members of militia groups that were present on Jan. 6 have stated their desires that they want to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible with a direct nexus to the State of the Union,” Pittman told members of the House Appropriations Committee.
“We think that it’s prudent that Capitol Police maintain its enhanced and robust security posture until we address those vulnerabilities going forward,” she said.
So far, no date has been set for Biden to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress, which typically takes place early in the year.
Security measures were tightened in Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. Fences topped with razor wire and checkpoints manned by the National Guard were set up there. Meanwhile, nearly 5,000 troops are expected to stay through mid-March.
The attack, which left five people dead, including a member of law enforcement, prompted a historic second impeachment trial against Trump, but the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted the former president.
Trump was blamed for inciting an insurrection when the lawmakers were busy certifying the victory of Biden in the November 3 election.
Trump had told his supporters, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Many details surrounding the fatal incident are still shrouded in secrecy, especially the role played by law enforcement agencies.
Congress is also reportedly constituting an independent commission to review the slip-ups, and to look at different aspects of the violent siege.
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