The US Capitol is back on high alert as police brace for today's 'Justice for J6' rally held in support of the rioters jailed for their roles in the January 6 insurrection that left five people dead.
Hundreds of police officers started gathering at the Capitol Saturday morning where eight-foot-high security fencing has been erected around the building in efforts to avoid a repeat of the violence eight months ago.
Dozens of dump trucks were driven in to form a barrier around the area ahead of the rally at 12pm.
A total of 100 National Guard troops are on standby and security officials are performing additional checks on travelers arriving at Washington DC's nearest airport in an effort to prevent violence.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said they had intelligence of online 'chatter' that is similar to that seen in the run-up to January 6 where it later emerged some rioters had organized the plot on social media.
Manger said it was 'tough to say' whether threats this time are credible or not but said police will be taking no chances, vowing 'we're not going to tolerate violence'.
Republicans have sought to distance themselves from the event with even staunch Donald Trump allies Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn - who supported his false claims of election fraud and have described the January 6 jailed rioters as 'political hostages' - confirming they won't attend.
Senator Lindsey Graham has called for cops to take a zero-tolerance approach to any violence saying 'if anybody gets out of line, they need to whack 'em.'
Authorities are determined to avoid a repeat of the disaster of January 6 where cops were unprepared for the MAGA mob, who managed to storm the building in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election win and sent lawmakers fleeing for their live.
Hundreds of police officers started gathering at the Capitol Saturday morning where eight-foot-high security fencing has been erected around the building
The US Capitol is back on high alert as police brace for today's 'Justice for J6' rally held in support of the January 6 rioters
Dozens of dump trucks form a barrier early Saturday as security measures are put into place before the rally at 12pm
A total of 100 National Guard troops are on standby and security officials are performing additional checks on travelers arriving at Washington DC's nearest airport
The Capitol is seen under security overnight Saturday as preparations were underway for the rally Saturday midday
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said they had intelligence of online 'chatter' that is similar to that seen in the run-up to January 6 where it later emerged some rioters had organized the plot on social media
Police vehicles are seen in the darkness overnight Friday as law enforcement prepare for possible violence at the rally
Around 700 Trump supporters and far-right activists are expected to descend on the West lawn of the Capitol for Saturday's rally to protest the federal charges that nearly 600 rioters have been slapped with over January 6.
Manger said at a press conference Friday the likeliest possibility for violence at the rally will be between protesters and counter-protesters who may show up, but that law enforcement will not allow things to escalate.
'We're not going to tolerate violence, and we will not tolerate criminal behavior of any kind,' Manger said.
'The American public and members of Congress have an expectation that we protect the Capitol. And I am confident that the plan we have in place will meet that expectation.'
Manger wouldn't give an indication of how seriously they are taking threats of violence.
'It's tough to say whether they're credible or not it,' he said of the threats. 'We don't know with any certainty.'
He added: 'We're not taking any chances.'
Preparations to defend the Capitol began earlier this week, with the building turned into a fortress with tall, black fencing around the perimeter.
Police are preparing for the possibility that some demonstrators may arrive with weapons.
USCP officers outlined the preparations they took to be ready for the rally even as they declined to go into details as not to reveal any sensitive security information.
The intent was to instill a sense of confidence and security going into the event.
A view of the U.S. Capitol behind newly-erected fencing ahead of the 'Justice for J6' rally set for Saturday
Capitol police patrol the Capitol grounds on Friday amidst a state of heightened security ahead of the 'Justice for J6' rally
The Supreme Court is seen behind newly-erected fencing ahead of the 'Justice for J6' rally scheduled for Saturday
Officials are determined not to repeat the intelligence and planning mistakes revealed in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection.
He said their intelligence indicated three different groups - one of whom had a history of clashes - were talking of attending.
He did not specify the groups.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that a Department of Homeland Security intelligence report warned of social media posts that discussed the possibility of storming the Capitol Friday night.
One user also 'commented on kidnapping an identified member of Congress,' the document said, though the lawmaker wasn't identified by name in the report.
Manger declined to comment on the
