BREAKING: Smoke rising behind Capitol building. Inauguration rehearsal appears to be evacuating. Emergency announcement playing at Capitol grounds.
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The smoke has now subsided. People who were on the grounds for inauguration rehearsal have left.
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Capitol buildings on lockdown:
NEW: At 10:20am, Hill staffers received the following text per @ArdenFarhi: “All buildings within the Capitol Complex: External security threat, no entry or exit is permitted, stay away from exterior windows, doors. If outside, seem cover. USCP”
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DC Fire is reporting a fire nearby. It's not clear if this is the smoke we saw:
#DCsBravest responded to an outside fire in the 100 block of H St SE that has been extinguished. There were no injuries. This accounts for smoke that many have seen.
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MORE:
USCP: Due to an external security threat under the bridge on I-295 at First and F Streets SE, staff and other personnel are directed to avoid coming to the Capitol Complex area until further notice. All personnel currently on the Capitol Complex are advised to stay indoors
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Further update, from what appears to have been the source of the smoke/fire a few blocks from the capitol. The fact that this what likely resulted in the lockdown speaks to how high tensions are right now.
All of this homeless person’s belongings just went up in flames under the 695 bridge near H and 2nd SE. Extremely unfortunate... @WTOPtraffic @nbcwashington

3:41 PM · Jan 18, 2021

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UPDATE: Confirmed, no fire in capitol or on the campus:
Replying to @frankthorp
CAPITOL POLICE: “There are currently no fires on or within the Capitol campus.”
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Further update from the Secret Service
Public safety and law enforcement responded to a small fire in the area of 1st and F streets SE, Washington, D.C. that has been extinguished. Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Capitol complex was temporarily shutdown. There is no threat to the public.
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Replying to @JProskowGlobal
I think this almost poetic.
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Replying to @JProskowGlobal
Excellent reporting, thank-you.
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Always watch for distractions.
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Replying to @JProskowGlobal
Lmao I can feel the disappointment in this tweet
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so its no longer about a virus. Just lockdown forever more
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Replying to @JProskowGlobal
Oh wow.
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Tensions are high/Story fits the narrative... six one, half dozen the other
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Replying to @JProskowGlobal
Question. Aren't homeless camps near the Capitol complex a risk? Seems like an easy way to infiltrate the complex.
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A. It was a mile away B. Why would someone living near the capitol be a security risk. 10s of 1000s of people live within a mile of the Capitol complex.
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