For inauguration, good luck, anarchists
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009 3:32 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC’s Joel Seidman
There won't be any anarchist protests come Inauguration Day, according to D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, but Washington residents will start seeing added police presence for inaugural events starting Jan. 16, when the Metropolitan Police Department will go to 12-hour shifts.
"No anarchist protest groups are planning on showing up" at inauguration events, Lanier said at a briefing on inaugural security for several hundred Washington businesses that.
For the past two presidential inaugurations, protesters kept Washington police busy with demonstrations that breached designated protest areas. Lanier added that more than 10,000 National Guard members will be assisting with security in the region, some 7,000 Guard troops will be deployed in the District itself.
The FBI said the bureau has detected "no credible or specific threats" to the inauguration. But Special Agent Andrew McCabe, of the counter-terrorism division of the FBI's Washington Field Office urged heightened awareness by businesses.
McCabe suggested that hotels and restaurants re-check security plans. The November terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, he added, had many new lessons on beefing up urban security.
McCabe noted the terrorists had clearly checked out their targets in advance of the attacks to find vulnerabilities. And the special agent suggested for all businesses to be careful in hiring temporary employees to fill in for the expected inaugural crowds.
Lanier estimated that one- to two-million people may descend on Washington for Inauguration Day. Law enforcement officials said they expect between 220,000 and 300,000 on the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue.
There will be 13 police checkpoints along the parade route. And on the Mall, for the swearing in ceremony, officials have increased the number of Jumbo-tron TV screens from 10 to 22.
There was also an estimate for unofficial inaugural events. Officials said more than 300 unofficial events have been planned in the Washington region.
And to get real-time updates on road closings and access to inaugural events and locations, the city is setting up a special Web site, www.72hour.DC.Gov, where once registered, one can receive alerts on cell phones and Blackberries.
