U.S. CAPITALS TENSE AS PRO-TRUMP ARMED PROTESTS LOOM

Ten days after rioters breached the US Capitol in a deadly attack that stunned the world, cities nationwide were girding for a potential wave of violent protests over the weekend, erecting barriers and deploying thousands of National Guard troops.

The FBI warned police agencies of possible armed demonstrations outside all 50 state capitol buildings starting Saturday through President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump who believe his false claims of electoral fraud, Nathan Layne and Patricia Zangerle reported for Reuters late on January 16, 2021.

There were scattered demonstrations on Saturday, but statehouses remained mostly quiet. Law enforcement officials have trained much of their focus on Sunday, when the anti-government white supremacist “boogaloo” movement made plans weeks ago to hold rallies in all 50 states.

Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in a statement late Friday that intelligence indicated “violent extremists” may seek to exploit planned armed protests in Austin to “conduct criminal acts.” Texas closed its Capitol through Inauguration Day.

Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Washington were among states that activated their National Guards to strengthen security.

In downtown Washington, which is locked down ahead of the inauguration, officers arrested a Virginia man who presented an “unauthorized inauguration credential” at a Capitol Police checkpoint on Friday evening and was found to have a loaded handgun and more than 500 rounds of ammunition, according to court papers.

The man, identified as Wesley Allen Beeler, was driving a pickup truck with several firearm-related bumper stickers, including one that read, “If they come for your guns Give ‘Em your bullets first,” the court papers said.

He was scheduled to appear in court on Saturday. His court-appointed lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

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