Washington: The US Capitol complex temporarily locked down during a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after a fire in a homeless encampment about 1.5 kilometres away sent a plume of smoke into the air and caused security concerns.
But law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public and the fire was not believed to be a threat to the inauguration. Local firefighters put out the blaze quickly. The evacuation of some participants and the lockdown were ordered by the acting chief of Capitol Police in an abundance of caution, officials said.
Participants in the rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration were ushered from the West Front of the US Capitol.Credit:AP
Biden was not participating in the rehearsal, nor were other VIPs who will attend the ceremony on Thursday AEDT.
But the fast decision to lock down underscores the fear that has gripped Washington since the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters and prompted extraordinary measures ahead of the inauguration. Armed protests planned for this past weekend around the country were mostly a bust, but anxiety is still skyrocketing.
