U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FBI Director James
Comey told lawmakers on Thursday that they were preparing their agencies
for the possibility of violence, both from unruly demonstrators and
terrorists, at the upcoming Republican and Democratic nominating
conventions.
Speaking before the House Homeland Security Committee, Johnson said
he was concerned that demonstrations at the events could get out of
hand.
In an interview with Reuters following his testimony, Johnson said he
knew of no specific or credible threat to either convention but that it
was important to be prepared.
Johnson said the Department of Homeland Security would be sending more than 3,000 personnel to each convention.
Recent clashes between attendees and protesters at rallies for
presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump have led to
physical assaults and arrests.
The Republican National Convention being held July 18-21 in Cleveland
and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia from July 25-28
follow a string of high-profile shootings.
In June, an Islamic State sympathizer committed the deadliest mass
shooting in U.S. history, killing 49 people in a gay nightclub in
Orlando, Florida. Last week, five police officers in Dallas were killed
by a black man angry about police shootings of unarmed black men.
Comey told the committee that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was
monitoring the threat of violence at the conventions "very, very
carefully."
"Anytime there is a national spotlight on a political event in the
United States, there is a risk that groups that aspire to do just that,
engage in acts of domestic terrorism, will be attracted," Comey said.
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