Armed protests likely ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration

New Delhi : The FBI on Monday issued a warning that there are possibilities of armed protests in Washington, DC, and at all 50 US state capitals on or before Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

The protests are likely by the outgoing President Donald Trump's supporters. The tourists have been barred from visiting Washington until January 24 and the national guards have been authorized to deploy 15000 troops for security.

Meanwhile, Biden's inaugural committee has announced the theme of the January 20 ceremony as "America United," which becomes critical at a time when the Trump supporters mobbed the US Capitol last Wednesday. 

According to a report by NDTV, the law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the FBI warnings were from January 16 and at least through January 20 for state capitals and for the three days leading up to Inauguration Day in Washington DC.

The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel Hokanson, told reporters he expected about 10,000 troops to be in Washington by Saturday and they would focus on supporting security, logistics, and communications. He said the number could rise to 15,000 if requested by local authorities.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden told the reporters that "I'm not afraid of taking the oath outside." He was referring to place outside the US Capitol building. 

But he said it was critically important that people "who engaged in sedition and threatened people's lives, defaced public property, caused great damage" be held accountable.

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