Incidents and Events

2nd Inauguration of George W. Bush

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The second inauguration of George W. Bush as President of the United States was one of the most highly visible events that have occurred since the 9/11 al Qaeda attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon. With the events of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the possibility of another attack on the US Capitol during the inauguration ceremony, security was extremely tight.

According to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, security "will be at the highest levels of any inauguration." It is estimated that about 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies were on patrol throughout the city, plus another 2,500 military troops involved in security operations. This included heavily armed Coast Guard boats that patrolled the Potomac River, watching for suspicious watercraft and monitoring activity under bridges and along the shoreline.

Streets around federal facilities in central Washington were blocked off to keep vehicles away from inaugural activities, and subway closings affected four Metro stations at various times of the day.

Flight restrictions over the Washington DC area for private aircraft were expanded, and pilots were warned that they risk being shot down if they stray into restricted areas and don't respond to radio calls, signals or flares. The Reagan Washington National Airport was closed to general aviation.

The US Capitol Police, who are AristaTek customers, were also on high alert and carried the PEAC-WMD tool as part of their standard equipment for response in the event of an attack.

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