Capitol Police warned by FBI, NYPD of risk of violence on Capitol Hill: report

FBI and New York Police Department (NYPD) officials warned U.S. Capitol Police of the risk of violence on Capitol Hill on January 6 amid planned protests against the certification of Electoral College results, NBC News reported Sunday.

Law enforcement reportedly transmitted reports that the protests could lead to violence before rioters stormed the Capitol last week, resulting in the deaths of a Capitol police officer and four others , including a rioter shot dead by a Capitol policeman.

The NBC News report comes after several law enforcement officials said there was no indication the protests would lead to violence or that the Capitol would be violated.

A senior FBI official told the network that before last week, “the FBI had obtained credible and actionable information” on more than a dozen people “who were planning to attend protests and who had expressed a desire to engage in violence ”.

The official said the office was “able to deter these people” from traveling to Washington, which they said could have prevented more violent riots on Wednesday.

“The FBI and our federal, state and local partners have gathered and shared the intelligence available in preparation for the various scheduled events,” the official told NBC News. “The FBI was ready to adapt as needed to fluid events on the ground, including having rapid response teams in reserve.”

The FBI official said the protests were “peaceful and non-confrontational” for most of the day, but that “when it became clear that some people were surging onto the Capitol grounds and entering buildings, police of the United States Capitol requested help.

“Within 50 minutes of this request, three FBI tactical teams were on scene to take control of the area and provide protection to members and staff of Congress,” the senior official said. “Over the course of the evening, the FBI’s presence finally grew to over 150 agents and other staff.”

The senior FBI official’s comments come after Steven D’Antuono, who heads the FBI’s field office in Washington, said: “There was no indication that there was anything [planned] other than the activity protected by the First Amendment. The official told NBC News they were unable to explain why D’Antuono made the statement.

The NYPD also reportedly sent law enforcement, including the Capitol Police, intelligence covering threats of social media violence ahead of the January 6 protests, several law enforcement officials told the network. .

These officials added that Capitol Police had also received another more specific intelligence report detailing the threats and extremist rhetoric on social media. Officials familiar with the intelligence packages said President TrumpDonald Trump Kim Says North Korean Efforts To Focus On Bringing United States To Its Knee Pelosi Urges Democrats To Prepare To Return To DC This Week Amid Ken Klippenstein Impeachment Calls: ‘Ideological’ Blind Spot ” prevented the police from responding urgently to the riots on Capitol Hill READ MOREThe encouragement of protesters to come to the Capitol likely brought a larger crowd to the Capitol.

The FBI, NYPD and Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the NBC News report.

NBC News also reported that a private intelligence report released in December said that “The Million MAGA March in Washington DC on January 6 is the next major flashpoint … the mass event (to be held in the National Mall and outside the Capitol) is likely to spark street violence, some of which can be fatal, between Antifa and Trump supporters or far-right groups. “

The Capitol Police had assistance refused from the National Guard three days before the protest and the FBI as rioters reached the Capitol last week, The Associated Press reported following.

The day before the riots, the mayor of DC Muriel bowserMuriel BowserSunday shows preview: Riots rock Washington as Trump impeachment calls grow Terrorism is a tactic – not a color or ideology The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump finally concedes; The pressure of the 25th amendment increases MORE (RE) Justice Department and Pentagon officials told that the DC police would not seek help from the federal authorities.

But Capitol Police were clearly overwhelmed after rioters reached the Capitol, forced their way into the building and vandalized the offices.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have sharply criticized the police response to the riots, prompting Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving to resign last week and the Majority Leader in the Senate. Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSirota reflects on what Democrats are likely to do with Senate Majority Trump looks down on new impeachment threat GOP Senator: Trump ‘committed unpeakable offenses’ MORE (R-Ky.) To oust Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger.