White House building 'non-scalable' fence as Washington DC prepares for election protests

Fence construction follows Donald Trump’s calls for supporters to watch voters in allegedly ‘fraudulent’ election

Federal authorities are set to build a “non-scalable” fence around the White House amid fears of election-related protests.

The fence will be the same type used to protect the White House complex when demonstrations took place over George Floyd’s death several months ago.

A federal law enforcement source told NBC News that construction would start on Monday, less than 24 hours before Americans head to polling stations for the 2020 presidential election.

It is the strongest sign to date that authorities anticipate some on-street demonstrations over the election outcome, amid tensions.

The Ellipse and Lafayette Square, which saw violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement this summer, will also be bound by the “non-scalable” fence.  

It will head down 15th Street, along Constitution Avenue, up 17th Street and then along H Street, a source told CNN.

Some 250 National Guards are also believed to be on standby, and will report to Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department in the event of deployment, CNN reported.

The city’s police chief, Peter Newsham, had already warned the District's City Council last month that they expected some form of protest following the election.

Many businesses in downtown Washington DC have boarded-up doors and windows, also in apparent preparation for protests.

It follows calls by president Donald Trump for his supporters to illegally "go into the polls and watch very carefully," whilst baselessly claiming the election was already “rigged” against him.

Amid such tensions, a recent YouGov poll found that 56 per cent of voters anticipated “an increase in violence as a result of the election”.