‘Lone actors’ biggest security threat during inauguration, US Capitol Police say

“Lone actors” pose the biggest security threat during the upcoming US presidential inauguration events, according to US Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger.

He mentioned two incidents last week on Capitol Hill where people tried to “disrupt” congressional proceedings with potentially violent tactics.

An estimated 250,000 ticketed guests will attend the official inauguration on Jan. 20, according to Bill’s estimate.

This will be supplemented with another 25,000, which law enforcement I expect he will attend the various demonstrations taking place around the Capitol on Inauguration Day. The inauguration and accompanying events have been designated a “national special security event,” the highest federal protection status an event can receive, authorities said.

“I think the biggest threat to all of us remains the lone actor,” Manger said Monday. “Just last week, as President Carter lay in bed, we had two lone actors show up at the Capitol: one trying to bring in knives and a machete; another who was trying to – what I believe – disrupt the proceedings by being setting fire to their car down in the circle of peace.”

“Capitol police were able to stop these people before they had a chance to do any damage. But that lone actor threat remains the biggest justification for us being on this heightened alert over the next week.”

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Manger’s remarks came during a press conference Monday with federal and local law enforcement officials, including leaders from the Metropolitan Police, Secret Service, FBI and US Capitol Police, as they discussed their preparations for the inauguration.

The FBI was represented by the assistant director in charge of the agency’s Washington field office, David Sundberg, who said the FBI “is not currently monitoring any specific or credible threats to the inauguration ceremony or the Capitol complex.”

The upcoming week of events will be secured similarly to last week’s two major national security events, the presidential election certification and the late Funeral of President Jimmy Carter, designated authorities. However, the inauguration will get a little extra support from roughly 4,000 local law enforcement officers who have volunteered to help and an estimated 7,800 National Guard troops who will be deployed to the nation’s capital. In total, according to Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of the agency’s Washington field office, Matt McCool, there will be a total of about 25,000 police officers on duty.

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The inauguration will receive additional concrete barriers and more than 30 miles of rock fencing, more than has been used for any special security national event in the past.

City Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said the district expects 12 different ones First Amendment demonstrations during the inauguration. Smith said that while “MPD will ensure your right to peacefully protest,” they “will not tolerate any violence.”

“I want to reiterate – as I always have done – that violence, destruction and illegal behavior will not be tolerated,” Smith said Monday. “Perpetrators will face swift and decisive consequences.”

When asked by reporters what is the biggest difference between this inauguration and last year in 2021, McCool said that there is a “slightly more robust security plan.”

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“We learned,” McCool said. “This is our fifth NSSE this year in the Washington field office. We’ve done 83 NSSEs, we look at each one, and if there are areas where we need to improve, we do. But what I can tell you is that we’re 100% confident in the plan we have set for this inauguration that the public and our residents will be safe.”