The Pentagon on Monday informed it has authorised 15,000 National Guard troops to be deployed for President-elect Joe Biden’s January 20 inauguration amid fears of violence by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.

Already 6,200 are on the ground in Washington, and a total of 10,000 are planned by the coming weekend, said General Daniel Hokanson, chief of the Defense Department’s National Guard Bureau, AFP reported.

Another 5,000 could be deployed by the day of the inauguration, he said.

The troops will come equipped with riot gear and weapons, however, they are yet to be authorised to arm themselves while on the streets of the US capital, he said.

As of the moment, they are deployed to support local police in communications, logistics, and security, he said.

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Authorizing the National Guard to deploy in a law enforcement role, armed and empowered to make arrests, would be a “last resort” if the security situation got out of hand, Hokanson said, AFP reported.

The Pentagon and the Guard came under heavy criticism for the slow response on Wednesday when the US Capitol was breached by thousands of Trump supporters attacking an undermanned and unprepared Congressional security force.

But Pentagon officials say they were summoned late and did not immediately have with them the required riot gear.

“They did not anticipate that level of violence,” remarked Hokanson.

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Earlier Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, anticipating the possibility of tension around the inauguration, called for people to stay away from the city.

“We are asking Americans not to come to Washington DC for the 59th presidential inauguration on January 20 and to instead participate virtually,” she said.