Washington DC Police Department officer Michael Fanone said rioters tried to take his gun. Video / CNN
The US Capitol complex temporarily locked down on Monday (US time) during a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration after a fire in a homeless encampment roughly a mile away sent a plume of smoke into the air and caused security concerns in an already jittery city.
The false alarm briefly interrupted the rehearsal for Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, a quadrennial exercise in which stand-ins take the roles of Biden and other VIPs and the US Marine Corps Band goes through its paces, including practicing "The Star-Spangled Banner" for Wednesday's performance by Lady Gaga.
The evacuation of some participants and the lockdown were ordered by the acting chief of Capitol Police in an abundance of caution, officials said. 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.
US Secret Service tightened security in and around the Capitol a week early in preparation, and the city centre is essentially on lockdown with streets blocked, high fencing installed and tens of thousands of National Guard and other law enforcement officers stationed around the area.
Members of the military are evacuated back inside the US Capitol after a security threat outside the Capitol grounds, prior to a dress rehearsal for the 59th inaugural ceremony. Photo / AP
People evacuate from the West Front of the US Capitol. Photo / AP
Inauguration rehearsal participants are led into a room inside the Capitol after being evacuated from the outside during a rehearsal. Photo / AP
But US defence officials, worried about a potential insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing the event, pushed the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into the area.
President Donald Trump has refused to attend the inauguration, the first time a sitting president has not attended since Andrew Jackson, though Vice President Mike Pence will be there as well as other former presidents.
Capitol police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said there were currently no fires on or within the campus.
"Members and staff were advised to shelter in place while the incident is being investigated," she said in a statement. Firefighters were called to the homeless encampment shortly before 10.15am, where a woman who lived there had a portable heater with a flammable gas tank, fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said.
The woman, who was injured but declined medical treatment, told firefighters that the flames spread quickly and her possessions were burned.
The good news: The threat at the Capitol looks may be a false alarm.
The bad news: A reminder that people are living in tents under highway overpasses just a few blocks from the Capitol of the most powerful nation on the planet. https://t.co/Cyme9aLFG9
BREAK: Smoke seen rising near Capitol building in Washington DC
Emergency announcement: "All buildings within the Capitol Complex: External security threat, no entry or exit is permitted, stay away from exterior windows, doors. If outside, seek cover."pic.twitter.com/R5COJXGR2d
The fire was extinguished almost immediately after firefighters arrived.Participants were ushered from the West Front of the Capitol. Those who had gathered for a walk-through, including a military band, were directed to head indoors and moved in the direction of a secure location inside the Capitol complex.
People involved in the rehearsal said security officials yelled "this is not a drill."
The lockdown was lifted about an hour later. Five people died in the January 6 riot, including a police officer.
