USA: strengthen security at the Capitol before …

The United States Capitol Police said via Twitter that there was a possibility of an attack on Congress on Thursday.

“We have obtained intelligence information which shows a possible plot to break into the Capitol by a militia identified Thursday March 4,” said the statement released by the social network, which points, without naming it, to the organization QAnon .

For this reason, the security of the seat of legislative power was increased, which was attacked by supporters of Donald Trump on January 6, the day both houses of Congress met to ratify Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

“We have already made significant security improvements,” said the force, which said it was “alert and prepared for any potential threat to members of Congress or the Capitol complex.”

In addition, he said he takes intelligence reports “seriously” and that he is working with local, state and federal forces to “stop any threat to the Capitol,” while avoiding going into details. .

On Tuesday evening, Capitol Police said they had been warned of “worrying information about March 4” and taken “immediate” action to tighten security.

Congressional Protocol and Security Services Chief Timothy Blodgett sent a message to members of Congress on Monday advising them he was monitoring news “related to March 4 and possible protests around what some are calling” the real one. investiture day “”.

Strictly speaking, US Presidents until 1933 were sworn in on March 4, not January 20, as has happened since then. This is why the alert is in effect. “The significance of this date has apparently diminished among different groups in recent days,” Blodgett pointed out, however.

During Donald Trump’s presidency, QAnon activists and their supporters argued, without evidence, that the Republican would save the world from corrupt and pedophile elites, and they launched various anti-vaccine campaigns amid the pandemic.

Many extremists who stormed the Capitol on January 6 and denounced the alleged fraud of the last general election, won by Biden, have called themselves QAnon activists.

The same protesters argued that Republican Donald Trump would not step down on January 20, as it ultimately happened, but would declare martial law and announce mass arrests of Democratic leaders to prevent Biden from reaching the White House.

As his omens were not fulfilled, the date was changed to March 4, the day the presidents of the United States before 1933 took office.

The FBI has been following QAnon for a long time. In August 2019, the organization was first described as a “dangerous extremist group”. In fact, several QAnon supporters are indicted for their alleged involvement in the storming of the Capitol on January 6.

At least five people, including a veteran of the Air Force, were killed in the attack and the police opened 170 files related to the riots.

House Democrats indicted Trump for inciting an insurgency, but the former president was acquitted by the Senate impeachment committee just days after Biden’s inauguration.

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security released a confidential assessment to law enforcement, warning that the threat of domestic violent extremism “is a trend that is expected to continue into 2021 and may escalate,” ABC reported.