Removal of fencing around US Capitol starts six months after Jan 6 insurrection

After six months of the horrific US Capitol insurrection by supporters of former president Donald Trump, fencing and barricades around the iconic legislature building in Washington have started be to dismantled by authorities on Friday. 

Following January 6 unrest, eight-foot (2.4-meter) black metal fencing had been erected at the citadel of American democracy. But according to AFP inputs, personnel were spotted removing bars connecting those fencings.

However, some restrictions will still remain in place as the US keeps on battling with political turmoil incited by far-right extremists or anti-fascist activists.

Removal of the fence itself was to begin early Saturday, workers on the site said, with the deconstruction operation expected to last through the weekend.

The Capitol had been guarded by thousands of National Guard troops and a wide security boundary complete with razor wire, turning the building into a fortress for months.

Yet, security concerns remained an issue for months. On April 2, a policeman was killed and another wounded when a man crashed his car into a barrier at the complex.

US Capitol Police shot the driver dead as he jumped out of the car and lunged with a knife.

However, lawmakers from both parties have been insistent on toning down the Capitol Hill traffic detours and scrapping the ban on visitors for months.

An outer perimeter was dismantled in March, but the fencing remained.

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In a letter to lawmakers this week, Senate Sergeant at Arms Karen Gibson said US Capitol Police will continue to “monitor intelligence information and the associated threat environment,” and that if threat conditions warrant, the temporary fencing could be reinstalled quickly.

“Additionally, though the temporary fencing will be removed, building access restrictions implemented in response to COVID-19 remain in place and will be enforced,” Gibson said, according to AFP inputs.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched a security review after the attack to study ways to bolster security around the Capitol.