An FBI intelligence report sent to the police on Monday warned that QAnon’s followers discussed posing as members of the National Guard in Washington, DC, on the day of the inauguration.
The intelligence report obtained by The Washington Post warned that followers of QAnon and “lone wolves” – some of whom were present at the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol – indicated that they plan to go to DC for the inauguration.
The FBI also said it watched people download and share maps of locations in the district and discussed how they could be used to interfere with security.
However, the briefing did not identify specific plots to attack the opening that would be similar to the January 6 riot.
The FBI did not characterize the credibility or seriousness of the threats made to police to the Post, but it did refer to comments that FBI director Christopher Wray made last week.
“We are monitoring all incoming leads, whether they are called armed protest, potential threats that grow out of the January 6 violation of the Capitol or other types of potential threats that lead to inaugural events and various other targets. So we are connected to all of our partners in this regard, ”said Wray.
A Secret Service spokesman told the newspaper that the agency “takes all threats seriously and will continue to work with our federal, state, local and military partners to continue securing the 59th tenure based on the relevant intelligence available to the community. of security”.
The Secret Service, which is taking over security for the opening, said in a statement to The Hill that it “takes all threats seriously and will continue to work with our federal, state, local and military partners to continue securing the 59th inauguration with based on the relevant intelligence available to the security community. ”
The FBI did not return a request for comment from The Hill.
National Guardsmen invaded DC last week amid heightened fears of another attack such as that of the United States Capitol, which caused five deaths.
The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the FBI is examining all 25,000 National Guard soldiers heading to DC for fear of an internal attack.
More than 100 people were arrested in connection with the riot, including members of the police and ex-military personnel.