- Title: USA: Americans battle confusion, crowds, cold to witness Obama inauguration
- Date: 22nd January 2009
- Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 20, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LARGE CROWDS WAITING TO ENTER GATE FOR ACCESS TO INAUGURATION VIEWING AREA CROWDS CHANTING "LET US IN" NEAR SECURITY GATE POLICE INSTRUCTING CROWDS TO WALK TO DIFFERENT GATES OFFICIAL TELLING MAN TO GET OFF OF A POLICE VEHICLE POLICE OFFICER TELLING MAN TO GET OFF OF CAR VARIOUS OF POLICE DIRECTIONG CROWD VARIOUS OF CROWDS STANDING IN TUNNEL FIRE ENGINE VARIOUS OF CROWDS WALKING THROUGH TRASH STREWN STREETS VARIOUS OF CROWDS WALKING INTO TUNNEL (SOUNDBITE) (English) CYRUS FROM MICHIGAN SAYING: "The tunnel was an absolute mess, no rhyme or reason, police cars driving through, nobody had any idea after we got off the metro." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CINDY MORTON-ROSE, SPECTATOR SAYING: "When we got here, the lines were long and we were told ticket holders were supposed to get in line inside the tunnel and we were in the tunnel underground for five hours just to come up and realize there was no line and people were pouring out with no organization. We all have purple tickets and now we are missing the inauguration and what was really going to be the most exciting day of my life is really pretty disappointing."
- Embargoed: 6th February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA2TBMQ1A9P7DTXQIPA43OC7Y20
- Story Text: Massive crowds chanted "Let us in. Let us in" swarmed entry points to the inauguration of Barack Obama.
Thousands of people with highly coveted tickets to the inauguration were stranded underground for hours and missed the event due to overwhelming turnout and confusion at checkpoints.
"What was really going to be the most exciting day of my life is really pretty disappointing," Cindy Morton Rose,who spent thousands of dollars to attend the inauguration, said.
Cyrus from Michigan described the scene as an "absolute mess"
with "no rhyme or reason."
A winter chill also complicated matters for many would be spectators.
"It was just too cold. There were people sleeping on the floor, they had cardboard boxes they were using for houses. After four hours, I could not walk." Vanessa Soliz of Wyoming said.
Her sentiment was echoed by many other spectators who eagerly purchased handwarmers and scarves from vendors operating outside entrypoints.
For some, the cumulative effect of extreme cold and having to walk several miles was particularly challenging.
"It is so much walking, I probably should have stayed at home and watched it out on T.V., Patricia Ann Robinson said pointing to her aching legs.
In spite of the complications, many were particularly determined to participate in the day's event. Carol Carter who suffers from cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy said she felt it was imperative that she attend the inauguration. Originally misdirected to the wrong entry gate, she battled the foot traffic by hopping into a bicycle cab.
Authorities also investigated a potential threat, of uncertain credibility, in connection with the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said.
The threat concerned an unspecified incident involving the Somali Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab, authorities said.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department notified law enforcement around the United States of the potential threat on Monday, authorities said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The bulletin was part of regular efforts to keep local officials aware of security developments. There was no change to the overall threat level, the department said.
A law enforcement official said the United States had been tracking the al Shabaab-related threat for several days.
The Somali group is on the U.S. list of terrorist groups. It has primarily acted in the violence-wracked Muslim East African country, but U.S.
intelligence officials have recently expressed concern about young Somalis living in the United States who have gone to train with al Shabaab.
Obama's transition team had been briefed on the threat warning, Knocke said.
Authorities were investigating a potential threat, of uncertain credibility, in connection with the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said on Tuesday.
The threat concerned an unspecified incident involving the Somali Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab, authorities said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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