Washington monument closed ahead of Inauguration Day as mayor calls for public events to be cancelled

US National Park Service receiving continued threats from groups involved in last week's US Capitol riot

The Washington Monument has been closed amid safety concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on 20 January.

The announcement comes as the mayor of the District of Columbia (DC) called for all public inauguration events to be cancelled ahead of the ceremony.

The US National Park Service said on Monday that the monument would remain closed until 24 January following continuing threats from groups involved in last week's US Capitol riot.

According to the park, threats to disturb Mr Biden's inauguration included possible disruption to the "set-up and execution of inaugural events, which occur in several park areas" on the National Mall.

“In response, the National Park Service will suspend tours of the Washington Monument,” the Park Service said, adding that it may “institute temporary closures of public access to roadways, parking areas, and restrooms" if necessary.

On the same day, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference that she had requested the Secretary of the Department of the Interior cancel and deny "any and all public gathering permits" between 11 January and 24 January.

The mayor noted that they had “made this request repeatedly since June 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic” but that “this week demonstrated the National Park Service’s to approve last-minute permits and major adjustments”.

Mr Biden had already announced a significantly pared-down inauguration due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic with traditional activities like the parade and the inaugural balls moving to a virtual format.

Americans are being asked not to attend the ceremony in person and instead participate in the ceremony virtually, in part to help prevent “a repeat of the violent insurrection experienced at the Capitol" last Wednesday.

The mayor has also requested that the president declare a “Pre-Emergency Declaration” for the district due to the fact that the inauguration poses “several unprecedented challenges”.

The move comes after Pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol last week amid protests in Washington, DC as Congress certified the results of the presidential election.

The shocking scenes saw rioters vandalise and loot the building after overwhelming Capitol police forces, forcing lawmakers to evacuate to safety. Five people died during the riots.

During the mob, rioters scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers prepped for the ceremony and the riot has prompted new concerns over the security of the event, which is just over a week away.

Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of the chaos, and roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states will help support the Capitol Police and Washington law enforcement over the next month.

“The outrageous attack on the Capitol, however, will not stop us from affirming to Americans — and the world — that our democracy endures,” said Sen Roy Blunt, R-Mo and Sen Amy Klobuchar. 

“The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity. We will be swearing in President-elect Biden.”

Additional reporting by agencies