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Washington to close metro stations, Delta bans guns to D.C. ahead of inauguration

[January 15, 2021] By Makini Brice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nation's capital and cities across the country ramped up security ahead of U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration, amid warnings of possible political violence even after the Jan. 20 swearing-in.

Delta, Alaska, American, and United Airlines announced on Thursday they will not allow travelers flying to Washington area airports to check firearms on its flights before the inauguration.

Delta chief executive Ed Bastian told CNBC his airline had placed passengers on a no-fly list for their involvement in disruptive incidents that, for example, targeted Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney.

National railroad service Amtrak also said it would be implementing heightened security measures, including the deployment of additional police officers on trains.

The actions follow the storming of the U.S. Capitol last week by supporters of President Donald Trump and disturbances on flights and at airports. Officials have warned of plans for armed protests in Washington and all 50 states.

In his first public appearance since the Jan. 6 attack, Vice President Mike Pence said: "We're going to ensure that we have a safe inauguration and that President-Elect Joe Biden, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris are sworn in as the new president and vice president."

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he was "concerned about the potential for violence at multiple protests and rallies planned here in DC and at state capitol buildings around the country."

Biden has asked Lisa Monaco, his pick for deputy attorney general and former President Barack Obama's counter-terrorism adviser, to serve as a temporary homeland security adviser leading up to the inauguration.

In Washington, the perimeter of a high fence surrounding the Capitol was pushed out to encompass the U.S. Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.

Nearby roads were closed, some businesses said they would shut down next week, and the city's public transportation agency said it was closing certain metro stations and rerouting bus lines from Friday through Jan. 21.

The National Park Service said a decision had yet to be made on whether to close the National Mall running from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The park service closed the Washington Monument to tours and Mayor Muriel Bowser asked visitors to stay away from the city.

Law enforcement officials have warned of potential violence beyond the U.S. capital. In Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine said on Thursday the statehouse and state office buildings in downtown Columbus would be closed from Sunday through Wednesday.

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U.S. security forces are mounting a national operation to thwart any violence before President-elect Joe Biden takes office - while Democrats warned of possible political violence even after the Jan. 20 swearing-in. Lisa Bernhard produced this report.

BEYOND INAUGURATION

Mary McCord, head of the Justice Department's national security division under former President Barack Obama, warned the threat could remain well beyond the inauguration.

"You will see a resurgence of activity and planning and extremists' threats. So I don't think this problem is going away with this president leaving the White House," McCord said.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to impeach Trump on charges of incitement after his supporters rampaged through the Capitol, leaving five dead, following a speech by the Republican president reiterating his false claim that Biden, a Democrat, beat him because of widespread fraud.

Federal authorities have arrested dozens of people as part of their investigation into the Capitol assault. A congressional official said the Senate Intelligence Committee will probe law enforcement agencies' handling of intelligence that preceded the attack once Democrats take control of the Senate.

More than 30 House Democrats, including lawmaker Mikie Sherrill, have asked the acting House and Senate sergeants-at-arms and the acting head of the Capitol Police for visitor logs, videos and other information about who was in the building that day.

Sherrill, who has accused Republicans of inciting the pro-Trump mob, said she saw colleagues leading groups on "reconnaissance" tours of the Capitol the day before the Jan. 6 attack.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, David Shephardson, David Lawder, Mark Hosenball, Andy Sullivan, Andrea Shalal in Washington, Barbara Goldberg in New York and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)

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