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Fear of "Inside Attack" in Biden Swearing: FBI Inspects Thousands of Soldiers in Washington

25,000 National Guard personnel were deployed in the capital after the riots in the Capitol, and the FBI joined the army’s screening process to locate any possible extremists.

The military secretary reassured that no unusual problems had been identified at this stage.

"There is no room for extremism in the army"

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• Joe Biden

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Monday, 18 January 2021, 10:34

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In the video: Increasing alert in Washington ahead of Biden's inauguration (Photo: Reuters)

The FBI is conducting investigations into all 25,000 National Guard forces deployed in Washington ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday - for fear among security officials of an "inside attack" by one of the participants in the ceremony.

Authorities stepped up vigilance in the U.S. capital after a serious security breach earlier this month, when supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed Capitol Hill in an attempt to thwart Biden's victory.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told the Associated Press that senior officials were aware of the potential danger, and that commanders had been instructed to keep an eye on various issues among their forces.

He said National Guard personnel are being trained on how to spot threats within their ranks.

However, he stressed that the FBI investigations did not raise any issues again, and that there was no evidence of attacks from within after participating in a three-hour exercise.

"We are taking a second and third look at each of the people sent to this operation," he told AP.

"The question is - are these all? Are there others?", McCarthy added.

"We need to be aware of this and use all the mechanisms we have to thoroughly examine these men and women who will support an operation like this."

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More than two and a half times soldiers from previous ceremonies.

Washington National Guard personnel (Photo: AP)

The military is basically conducting tests that are supposed to find out if the soldiers have anything to do with extremist ideologies, but the FBI's involvement in the screening is another precaution.

David Gomez, a former FBI inspector in Seattle, told the Associated Press that the FBI would scan its database and watchlists to find out if any of the participants in the swearing-in ceremony were there, including whether his name was included in counter-terrorism investigations.

The FBI referred the request for a response to the Secret Service, which has not yet responded.

The military said they are working with the Secret Service to determine if any of the participants in the swearing-in ceremony need further background checks.

"Washington National Capital Guard also provides additional training to service personnel upon arrival so that if they see or hear inappropriate things, they will report it to the chain of command," the military said in a statement.

"There is no room for extremism in the military and we will investigate each report individually and take the necessary steps. The military is committed to working closely with the FBI while identifying those who participated in the violent attack in the Capitol to determine which of them has any connection to the military."

The National Guard near the Capitol is preparing for Biden's inauguration tonight (Photo: Reuters)

About 25,000 National Guard personnel are expected to be in Washington, D.C. ahead of the ceremony, at least two and a half times more than previous ceremonies.

According to McCarthy, the biggest concerns are riots by armed groups or bombers.

The military secretary said the ceremony was "a top national priority".

He added: "We want to send a message to everyone in the United States and the rest of the world that we can do this safely and peacefully."

McCarthy told the Associated Press that there were military personnel in the riots in the Capitol, which resulted in the deaths of five people and at least 125 arrests, but he noted that their number was unknown.

As of last night, only two soldiers in regular service have been arrested for participating in an unprecedented attack on the emblem of American democracy.

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