WASHINGTON, D.C. — Government officials are warning that extremist groups may be planning to use guns and explosive devices to disrupt the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden ahead of Inauguration Day.
That has led to tighter than ever security measures in Washington, D.C.
Following last week’s deadly violence, the U.S. Capitol is now closed off to the general public, surrounded by a seven-foot fence.
“Hate groups across the country meanwhile are using every technological tool at their disposal to connect and coordinate future attacks. They’re sharing tactics and lists of targets,” said Margaret Huang of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Thousands of National Guard troops are assisting Capitol police.
Independent groups monitoring the situation say the threat from extremists has grown stronger in recent years.
“Rhetoric from the president and those around him claiming that there was a steal, things were unfair and that there is a call in a sense for war and for the extremists, this is keeping with their conspiracy theories,” said Doron Ezickson of the Anti-Defamation League.
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