After looking into reports of possible protests in Pittsburgh before the presidential inauguration, Pittsburgh’s FBI Office said Tuesday that “at this time, we are not aware of any related threats in our region.”
The region includes all of Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Washington Post reported Saturday that a security website had said Pittsburgh was among several cities where protests were possible preceding the inauguration Jan. 20 of President-elect Joe Biden.
FBI Pittsburgh said in a news release that it had contacted and interviewed the “Pittsburgh-based individual” who was “cited in the report” to come to its conclusion.
Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety said Saturday that it also was aware of reports of possible protests here.
“We continue to work closely with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety and focusing our efforts on identifying, investigating and disrupting individuals who are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity,” FBI Pittsburgh’s statement said.
On Monday, the FBI warned that far-right extremist groups were planning to march on state capitals this weekend, triggering a rush to fortify government buildings.
In Harrisburg, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tom Wolf said the state had received no further information about demonstrations.
She said the Capitol Complex was closed to visitors in December due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and remains closed now.
“At this time, the administration has not received any resource requests related to reported planned First Amendment activities in Harrisburg or elsewhere in the commonwealth, but we are prepared to provide support if needed,” she said.
First Published: January 12, 2021, 10:48 p.m.
