Six months after the US Capitol fence was attacked by Reuters on January 6

By the hand of Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Workers began removing the last high-security fence around the U.S. Capitol on Friday, more than six months after supporters of former President Donald Trump carried out a deadly attack on the home of the U.S. Congress.

At one point an eight-meter-high (2.4 m) black mesh fence surrounded several blocks of Capitol Hill, obstructing pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The remaining sections, which are just a set of white Capitol complexes, will take about three days to remove, according to the U.S. House of Representatives William Walker.

The decision to remove the remaining fence was based on an assessment by the U.S. Capitol Police about the current threat and improved coordination with local and federal law enforcement agencies, Walker said in a statement.

More than 535 people have been indicted for their involvement in the bombing, as Trump supporters smashed windows, fought police and sent lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence to safety.

Five people were killed during the violence and the following day, including a Capitol police officer. The two policemen involved in the defense of the capitol later took his own life. More than a hundred policemen were injured.

The riots tried to secure Congress to win the election of President Joe Biden, and Trump falsely said it was widespread fraud. Multiple courts, state election officials, and some members of the Trump administration have relied on the claims.

After about 20,000 National Guard soldiers were called to the city to defend the building, the last contingent would not leave until May.

Walker said temporary fences could be re-installed quickly if needed and other restrictions on access to the Capitol would remain the same. Tourists and other visitors were banned from entering the Capitol last year due to social restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When work to remove him from office began on Friday, Democratic lawmakers appeared concerned that Congress would not pay for increased operations and that they had worked overtime on Capitol Police bills since the Jan. 6 bombing.

The House approved $ 1.9 trillion in Capitol security in May without Republican support, but the legislation has been halted in the Senate because it is divided by party. Senate Credit Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, said measures must be taken, otherwise “Capitol Police predict that sometime in August they will run out of salary funds.”