Accomplices in the Capitol? The FBI is investigating whether the attack was planned with help from within

The Secret Service and the federal agencies of United States they are working tirelessly these days on a massive deployment of security forces in Washington to prevent the unprecedented wave of violence on January 6, when a mob of outgoing President Donald supporters is repeated in Joe Biden’s assumption this Wednesday. Trump stormed the Chapters.

The planes arriving in the American capital these days are crowded with uniforms from all over the country, in camouflaged suits and other men in civilian clothes, of immense stature and hair in the air.

When Democratic President and his deputy Kamala Harris take the oath, there will be a deployment of 15,000 members of the National Guard, thousands of police and other federal agents who will guard the ceremony in a city that is already completely closed, with checkpoints and officers deployed everywhere, although almost the entire event will take place virtually.

It is feared that the assault on the Capitol on King’s Day was not an isolated and spontaneous episode of violent protesters inflamed by Trump’s speech, but that the attack has been planned. Even if he had had help from inside the enclosure.

Investigators in the case drew their attention to the fact that there were attackers in organized columns, a woman shouting instructions with a megaphone and people who had visited the Capitol the day before.

The Confederate flag, one of the racist symbols worn by the Capitol assailants, on 6 January.  Photo: REUTERS

The Confederate flag, one of the racist symbols worn by the Capitol assailants, on 6 January. Photo: REUTERS

Conspiracy?

In the hundreds of videos and photographs that were spread of the attack, some point to a possible organized conspiracy. In some it is seen how the local police, one of the most guarded in the world, barely resist the protesters jumping fences.

In others he goes to a woman in a pink cap who gives instructions with a megaphone inside Congress to other people, as if to tell them where to go. He also sees two men carrying plastic strips that could be used to immobilize hostages.

Some officials believe many of the protesters were moving with surprising safety inside the building, which are immense moles of office mazes interconnected with corridors and tunnels, And they knew where the offices of the principal legislators were.

“They knew where to go,” Democratic Rep. James Clyburn told CBS News. “Yes, someone inside those buildings was complicit in that.”

In a thorough search, prosecutors arrested dozens of people and say more than 200 can be charged. But they did not mention for now that there had been a conspiracy or conspiracy.

However, Michael Sherwin, the Washington federal prosecutor overseeing the investigation, has said they are seeing “traces of organization,” including communications between those inside and outside the building. According to the prosecutor, the priority for the security forces is to determine whether there was “general control and command” and “organized teams” in the invasion of Congress.

suspicious visits

Lawmaker Mikie Sherrill said groups of Trump supporters entered the Capitol a day before the attack on a tour to “recognize” and described those visits as “suspicious.”

Tourists can enter some parts of the building with guided tours, but can also enter if invited by a legislator or member of their team, always transposing strict security measures.

“The links between these groups within the Capitol Complex and the attacks on the Capitol need to be investigated,” Sherrill noted.

Disturbed the Capitol

Matthew Feldman, of the Center for Radical Right Analysis in the UK, says this is typical of political violence. “The people who formed the mass didn’t seem organized, but among them were clearly people who were organized,” he adds.

Feldman points out that the crowd included members of the violent groups Three Percenters, Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, some of whom traveled to Washington from as far away as Hawaii. Also among the assailants were identified several police officers from different states who were off duty.

Their presence, the discovery of homemade bombs hidden nearby, and the apparent threats to capture members of Congress or the vice president were signs of a conspiracy of “terrorism,” Feldman says.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, whose office was invaded by protesters, mentioned Friday the possibility of planning and coordination.

“If it is discovered that members of Congress were complicit in this insurrection, if they helped and incited the crime, actions may be taken beyond Congress in terms of prosecution,” he warned.

Washington, correspondent

CB

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