Notes on the Capitol attack: US House of Representatives meeting adjourned

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Signs of capitol attack
US House of Representatives meeting adjourned

US intelligence agencies suspect that right-wing militias are planning another attack on the Capitol in Washington. Security forces are on alert. A vote in the House of Representatives planned for today will be brought forward on the safe side.

Following a sign of a possible new attack on the US Capitol, the US House of Representatives has a vote planned for this Thursday. A spokesman for the Chamber of Parliament confirmed that no more votes would be cast in the week of this session after Wednesday evening. US media unanimously reported that the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday was canceled. The Washington Post reported that the Senate – the other chamber in Congress – still plans to meet in the Capitol today.

The Capitol Police announced on Wednesday that intelligence indicated a possible plan by a militia to attack the Capitol on Thursday. The Capitol Police are aware of and prepared for potential threats. Among other things, besides the creation of barriers, the number of security forces has been increased to protect the Parliament.

Supporters of elected US President Donald Trump, who has resigned from the left, created a ruckus and wreaked havoc in the Capitol on 6 January during a session of Congress. The Capitol Police then caught fire as the parliamentary security forces were not ready for the attack and could not stop the intruders. The riots killed at least five people, including a police officer.

The then head of the Capitol Police, Steven Sundar, resigned. Republican Trump instigated his supporters at a rally shortly before the attack that victory in the November election was stolen from him. Democrats accused him of “inciting a riot” and began impeachment proceedings. Trump was acquitted last month because the Senate did not have a two-thirds majority.

Following the attack on 6 January, security in the Capitol was widely tightened and the Parliament House was closed. The acting chief of the Capitol Police, Yogananda Pittman, had already warned at a hearing in Congress last Thursday that there were information that members of the right-wing militia were considering another attack on Parliament.