WASHINGTON: In a fortnight from now, the entire Washington city would be engulfed into an unprecedented security cover to thwart any untoward incident as a record number of people from the across the US are expected to converge here on the occasion of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President.
Billing it as largest security operation ever for an inauguration, 'The Washington Post' said on Sunday that thousands of extra police, agents and troops are being brought in to handle tens of thousands of people, who would be attending or witnessing various events related to the swearing in ceremony of 47-year-old Obama, the first black to be voted to the White House.
While the main swearing in event and the parade would be held on January 20, more than 70 concerts have been planned around the inauguration.
An estimated two million people from across the US are expected to come to Washington for the historic event -- swearing in of the first black-American as the US President.
This being the first change of power after 9/11, the US security forces and intelligence agencies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that everything passes smoothly.
The US Park Police, which checks bags of people coming to Mall for Obama's swearing in, has sought military help this time. The military will provide 11,500 people, compared with about 7,000 for the last inauguration, the newspaper said quoting officials.
Of these about 5,000 will be involved in ceremonial activities. This is similar to the number in 2005. Another 1,300 unarmed National Guard soldiers have been asked to help the police to detect problems.
"With potentially 2 million people wrapped in bulky coats and blankets pouring onto the Mall for Obama's swearing-in, stretching to the Lincoln Memorial, police decided that it would take too long to funnel them through checkpoints," the Post said.
The FBI, the newspaper said, is bringing 20 per cent more employees than usual for the activities. As many as 23 sub-committees are focusing on issues ranging from explosive to civil disturbances to the airspace, the newspaper said, adding the Secret Service is overseeing the inaugural security plan, working with 57 other federal and local agencies.
"DC police are planning to field 8,000 officers on January 20 -- 4,000 of their own and another 4,000 from other departments, one-quarter more than the force borrowed for President (George W) Bush's inauguration in 2005," it said.
Not only this, the Metro Transit Police Department has sought help of police departments from Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta in managing the crowd at the metro stations during those days.
Anticipating huge rush, authorities have already urged people to arrive early for the functions that they would be attending. For instance, last week, officials urged that those with the tickets to the 11-30 am swearing in ceremony should arrive no later than 9 am.
While the Federal Protective Service, which guards government buildings, will increase its staffing by 30 per cent from the last inauguration, the newspaper said the District this time would be spending USD 28 million -- 60 per cent more on security of the inauguration than last time.
