National Mall ‘to be completely closed’ for Joe Biden’s inauguration amid security concernsIndependent/UK, Jan 14, 2021
The National Mall in Washington, DC will be completely closed off to the public on Inauguration Day amid ongoing concerns about violent protests.
Only security personnel and the media will be allowed to access the traditional gathering place for crowds keen to see the ceremony, according to officials who spoke to The Washington Post.
The extraordinary shutdown of the entire mall for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden comes as the city and federal authorities act to prevent further violence following the 6 January assault on the Capitol Building.
More than 20,000 National Guard troops have been called up to protect the swearing in of the 46th president on Wednesday 20 January. The FBI is monitoring threats ahead of the event, including the possibility of armed protests.
The Mall is the largest open space in the city, officially stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument — though often taken to also include areas to the west leading up to the Lincoln Memorial.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-inauguration-national-mall-closed-b1787353.html