U.S. FBI Director James Comey (R) and U.S. Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, July 14, 2016. U.S. Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson warned on Thursday of possible violence during the upcoming Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)
WASHINGTON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson warned on Thursday of possible violence during the upcoming Republican National Convention.
"I am concerned about the prospect of demonstrations getting out of hand," said Johnson here during a congressional hearing. "I am concerned about the possibility of violence."
According to Johnson, some 3,000 personnel from his agency will be dispatched for the security of both the Republican National between July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio and the Democratic National Convention slated for July 25-28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"I know that there will be at least another 1,000 or so U.S. Government personnel in hand in both places... as well as probably thousands in terms of state and local law enforcement," he added.
An anti-Trump protester holds his protest sign in front of mounted police outside a rally for Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. March 12, 2016. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File PhotoAn anti-Trump protester holds his protest sign in front of mounted police outside a rally for Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. March 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo)
The Republican Convention will come at a time when the country was still reeling from series of racially charged shooting incidents which threatened to pit the country's African-American community and law enforcement officials against each other.
During his year-long campaign, Donald Trump, the New York billionaire developer expected to formally accept the GOP presidential nomination, frequently raised eyebrows across the political spectrum after uttering racially controversial words.
Meanwhile, FBI Director James Comey said on Thursday at the same hearing that the authorities were monitoring closely possible acts of domestic terrorism during the two conventions.
"There is a concern anytime there's an event like this that people from across a spectrum of radical groups will be attracted to it," said Comey.
