[custom_adv] Hundreds of National Guard troops are sleeping on the stone floor of the US Capitol as security intensifies in Washington DC and the capital goes into lockdown a week out from Joe Biden’s inauguration. The troops, who descended on DC in the wake of last week’s MAGA mob riots, were spotted cradling their weapons as they slept on the floor of the Capitol on Wednesday morning. [custom_adv] Lawmakers entering the building walked by the sleeping troops as they lined the hallways. It is reportedly the first time troops have set up camp in the Capitol since the Civil War. [custom_adv] The National Guard has been authorized to send a total of 15,000 troops to Washington to help safeguard the capital ahead of Biden’s inauguration. There are already 6,200 troops on the ground in DC. At least 10,000 will be in place by Saturday and the remaining 5,000 on standby in case violence erupts. [custom_adv] The troops, thousands of other law enforcement officers and layers of eight -foot anti-climb steel fencing are among the reinforcements being used to fortify DC a week out from the inauguration in a bid to protect the capital from any potential violence. [custom_adv] Security experts have said chatter among extremists and Trump supporters on social media about holding armed marches and threatening violence in DC and other cities has surged in recent days. The FBI has already warned of armed protests being planned in Washington and all 50 state capitals in the run-up to the inauguration. [custom_adv] On Wednesday, Acting US Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen warned potential domestic terrorists against further attacks as federal law enforcement officials prepare for potential further violence with more planned protests ahead. [custom_adv] The Secret Service will take control of inauguration security preparations from today and road closures are now in effect across parts the downtown Washington DC area until after the inauguration. [custom_adv] The increased security measures are being implemented days earlier than scheduled as a direct result of last week’s deadly Capitol siege at the hands of Trump-supporting rioters. Restricted areas have already been established around the White House and Capitol grounds with extra security screenings in place for those trying to get access. [custom_adv] Eight-foot steel fences that are nonscalable have already been erected around the White House, Capitol and other federal buildings, including the Supreme Court. Armed National Guard troops and other law enforcement have been patrolling these areas all week. [custom_adv] Access to all roads, parking garages and loading docks surrounding the White House will be banned from Thursday morning. Authorities say that any vehicle within that restricted area will be stuck there until after the inauguration. The restrictions apply to both residential and commercial buildings. [custom_adv] The Secret Service will take control of inauguration security preparations from today and road closures are now in effect across parts the downtown Washington DC area until after the inauguration. Further perimeters and additional road closures are expected in the coming days. [custom_adv] The FBI, National Guard, US Marshals Service, local law enforcement and other federal agencies will now fall under Secret Service command for the inauguration preparations.
