Airbnb announced on
Wednesday it will cancel on bookings in Washington around the time of
President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20. This comes after local
authorities urged people to stay away following last week’s violent attack on
the US Capitol.

In a statement, the
company said, “We are announcing that Airbnb will cancel reservations in
the Washington, DC metro area during the inauguration week.”

“Additionally, we
will prevent any new reservations in the Washington, DC area from being booked
during that time by blocking such reservations.”

Thousands of pro-Trump
demonstrators attacked the Capitol as lawmakers convened to certify Biden’s
victory in the November’s election.

Some of the rioters
stayed at Airbnb rentals in the city and its suburbs. The company is now investigating
whether people named as participants in the attack by law enforcement had used
their services.

“Through this
work, we have identified numerous individuals who are either associated with
known hate groups or otherwise involved in the criminal activity at the Capitol
Building, and they have been banned from Airbnb’s platform,” the company
said in a statement.

Meanwhile, with the
possibility of another protest during Biden’s swearing-in, residents in the
city had called on neighbors with Airbnbs not to rent during the inauguration.

Urging visitors to
stay at home, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “We are asking
Americans not to come to Washington DC for the 59th presidential inauguration
on January 20 and to instead participate virtually.”