‘Threat’: National Guard to stay in Washington till Mar.

Violence remains a concern ahead of Trump’s impeachment trial

Washington, Jan. 26: Thousands of US National Guard troops mobilised in Washington for the presidential inauguration will remain in place through mid-March due to ongoing threats, Pentagon officials said Monday.

The officials did not offer specific information on the threats, saying the information came from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

But Washington remained concerned about more possible violence after the January 6 attack on Congress by supporters of president Donald Trump, and ahead of the impeachment trial of Trump beginning the week of February 8.

Acting Army Secretary John Whitley said they had been briefed on possible risks with “several” upcoming events in Washington over the coming several weeks.

Security officials are concerned that protests “could either be used by malicious actors or other problems that could emerge,” he said.

“We are posturing our forces to be able to respond to those threats if they emerge,” he said.

The attack on the US Capitol on January 6, which left five people dead and has been labelled an insurrection, led the army to increase the number

of National Guard troops deployed in Washington from a few hundred to 25,000 for the January 20 inauguration of

President Joe Biden.

On Monday about 13,000 the reservists remained.

About 7,000 would

of

stay through the end of January, and then fall slowly to about 5,000 in mid-March, according to Whitley. —