National Guard deployed for Washington DC crackdown will soon be armed, says Pentagon

2,000 National Guard troops in DC

The step is an escalation in Trump’s intervention into policing the nation’s capital and comes as nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in the city, with the arrival this week of hundreds of troops from several Republican-led states.

The city had been informed about the intent for the National Guard to be armed. (Photo: Reuters)

Trump initially called up 800 members of the District of Columbia National Guard to assist federal law enforcement in his crackdown on crime and homelessness in the capital. Since then, six states have sent troops to the city, growing the military presence.

Pentagon earlier said troops won’t be armed

The Pentagon and Army said last week that troops would not carry weapons. The guard has so far not taken part in law enforcement but has largely been protecting landmarks like the National Mall and Union Station and helping with crowd control.

The city had been informed about the intent for the National Guard to be armed, a person familiar with the conversations told The Associated Press.

700 arrested in DC so far

Meanwhile, a White House official said that 76 people, including 36 undocumented immigrants, were arrested in DC on Thursday night as part of the president’s law-enforcement initiative. The charges against them include drug possession, resisting arrest, assault and driving without a licence.

Nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in DC. (Photo: Reuters)

Those arrested included two known gang members, a person who had an outstanding warrant for violating parole in a sex abuse case, a person who was carrying a pistol without a licence, and a robbery suspect.

More than 700 people have so far been arrested in DC, since the operation started.