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dpa
New York
Participants at a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration were evacuated from the West Front of the US Capitol on Monday after a fire broke out near the building, according to officials.
With tensions still high in the wake of the January 6 pro-Trump attack on the Capitol, security officers rapidly whisked away the participants, including members of a military band, as a plume of smoke was seen shooting up in the air a few blocks away around 10:30 am local time.
But the blaze apparently wasn’t connected to the inaugural preparations, and the city’s fire department said no injuries were reported.
Law enforcement officials said the fire likely started in a homeless encampment under a highway overpass about five blocks away from the Capitol.
Neither Biden nor vice president-elect Kamala Harris were on site.
The US Secret Service, which is leading security operations for Biden’s Wednesday inauguration, said it ordered the fire-related evacuation “out of an abundance of caution” and that people on the Capitol grounds were told to shelter in place.
“There is no threat to the public,” the agency said in a statement.
New York
Participants at a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration were evacuated from the West Front of the US Capitol on Monday after a fire broke out near the building, according to officials.
With tensions still high in the wake of the January 6 pro-Trump attack on the Capitol, security officers rapidly whisked away the participants, including members of a military band, as a plume of smoke was seen shooting up in the air a few blocks away around 10:30 am local time.
But the blaze apparently wasn’t connected to the inaugural preparations, and the city’s fire department said no injuries were reported.
Law enforcement officials said the fire likely started in a homeless encampment under a highway overpass about five blocks away from the Capitol.
Neither Biden nor vice president-elect Kamala Harris were on site.
The US Secret Service, which is leading security operations for Biden’s Wednesday inauguration, said it ordered the fire-related evacuation “out of an abundance of caution” and that people on the Capitol grounds were told to shelter in place.
“There is no threat to the public,” the agency said in a statement.
