The White House, the U.S. Capitol and the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris were surrounded by rings of new security barriers on Sunday as federal and district authorities prepared for potential unrest in Washington after Tuesday's presidential election, UNN reports citing The Washington Post.
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For weeks, D.C. officials have been sending reassuring messages to residents and businesses still suffering from damage caused during some of the racial justice protests and in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Authorities are not aware of any serious threats, the D.C. police chief said at a press conference, adding that "there is no need for any alarm.
However, some of the precautions were reinforced last weekend, as the Secret Service erected new nearly 2.5-meter-high metal fences around the White House and Treasury Department complexes, as well as adjacent parts of Lafayette Square, and outside the Naval Observatory and Harris residence. The Capitol has re-established temporary bike rack barriers with "Police Line: Do Not Cross" signs around the perimeter. The agency is also introducing physical security measures outside the West Palm Beach Convention Center, Florida, where Donald Trump will hold an election party near his Mar-a-Lago residence, the newspaper writes.
"The Secret Service is working closely with federal, state, and local partners in Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach County, Florida, to provide enhanced security on Election Day," the agency said in a statement on Sunday. - "These improvements are not in response to any specific issue, but are part of a broader effort to ensure public safety during Tuesday's election.
The D.C. police also announced street closures starting at 7 p.m. Monday night local time in preparation for Harris' election night party at Howard University.
While the authorities worked to shore up state assets, some business and property owners prepared for the worst by increasing private security, reinforcing windows and entrances at street level, and finalizing contingency plans in anticipation of possible robberies or riots. Owners of commercial buildings near the White House boarded up or added fences to the outside of street-level businesses and shops, and business association leaders said they would rather be prepared than hurt in the event of street violence, although District officials said there was no need to close windows.
D.C.'s 3,300 police officers will work 12-hour shifts, with most furloughs canceled at least until after the election, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said last week, "to ensure that we have enough officers on the street and in every corner of the District.
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