Joe Biden's Inauguration Exercise Interrupted, Police Investigate Fires Near Capitol Hill

JAKARTA - United States security authorities decided to temporarily close the Capitol Hill area, Washington DC. This was done after a fire broke out at a homeless shelter near Capitol Hill, Monday, January 18 local time.

The decision was taken in light of the high security tension in Washington after the riots on January 6 and the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday.

"Out of extreme care, the US Capitol complex is temporarily closed. There is no threat to the public," the US Secret Service said via Twitter.

When the fire broke out, the committee for the inauguration of the President and Vice President-elect of the US was holding an inauguration exercise in the Rotunda Room, Capitol Hill. As a result, the exercise was stopped and all participants were evacuated to a safe place.

An hour later, the closure around the Capitol Hill area was lifted after the fire was successfully extinguished and conditions around Capitol Hill were believed to be safe. There were no casualties in this fire incident.

The US Capitol Police will further investigate this incident. To be sure, security around Capitol Hill will be even tighter after this. Previously, Washington DC, especially the area around Capitol Hill was on alert.

This is related to the security threat at the inauguration of the President and Vice President-elect of the US tomorrow. Earlier, Donald Trump's supporters rioted on Capitol Hill on January 6.

Even so, the FBI also warned of potential security threats, related to armed demonstrations that may occur in Washington DC and all other states of the United States.