Guard units defending Capitol warned of IED threat: report

by Jordan Williams - 01/14/21 9:01 AM ET

National Guard units have been warned of IED threats to the Capitol in the days around President-elect Joe Biden’s upcoming inauguration, two guardsmen briefed this week told Politico.

The news outlet reported that law enforcement believes that the IEDs planted at the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee last week during the riots at the Capitol were not isolated incidents.

The individual suspected of planting those bombs has not been detained and D.C. residents told Politico that the FBI has been asking for any photos or videos that could help identify the suspect.

However, Politico noted that it’s not clear whether guardsmen are preparing to be the ones to respond to potential IED threats, and the briefings have left some uneasy.

Guardsmen are also being briefed that protesters could be heavily armed, and Politico notes one guardsman said that a “significant majority” of soldiers are heavily armed.

A spokesperson for the National Guard said that its “primary objective is to provide support to local authorities,” adding that the Guard will provide crowd management, traffic control, parking coordination and medical and logistical support during the inauguration.

The briefing comes amid heightened security concerns around the inauguration after a mob of President Trump’s supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in a riot that led to five deaths and dozens of arrests last week.

Trump was impeached by the House for a second time on Wednesday on charges of “inciting” the storming of the Capitol.

The FBI previously issued a bulletin warning of armed protests at the Capitol and in all 50 states in the days leading up to the inauguration.

About 20,000 National Guardsmen are expected to be in Washington for Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday at the request of federal authorities, and the troops have been armed.

Hundreds of service members were seen inside of the Capitol on Wednesday as the House was voting to impeach Trump for inciting the riot.

–Updated at 10:26 a.m.