Federal, state and local law enforcement officials are on high alert ahead of the Republican National Convention that will kick off in Milwaukee on Monday. A greater emphasis was added after former President Donald Trump was injured in a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening.
A joint threat assessment created by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center was sent out to law enforcement officials in anticipation of the RNC, calling for heightened awareness.
No credible or specific threat was identified in the assessment, a law enforcement source told CBS News on Saturday.
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The assessment found that there is concern the convention and pre- and post-celebration venues could be attractive targets for foreign terrorist organizations, homegrown violent extremists, domestic violent extremist groups, so-called lone-wolf bad actors and active shooters, a law enforcement source said.
Other key findings in the threat assessment include the convention could be viewed as an attractive target due to its symbolic nature and link to the 2024 general election.
As such, all law enforcement and security agencies will be enhancing their presence and resources during the event. After the shooting in Pennsylvania, there is planning currently underway to expand the perimeter at the RNC and create buffer zones around the events, according to multiple law enforcement officials.
The Republican and Democratic conventions are considered high-priority events for law enforcement and are on par with other high-profile large gathering events such as the Super Bowl and presidential inaugurations.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security classifies the RNC as a SEAR -1 event, which is defined as “significant events with national and/or international importance that require extensive federal interagency support.” Federal law enforcement bulletins such as the joint threat assessment are required for all SEAR-1 events.
At least two dozen states and the District of Columbia are sending officers to the convention, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. Additional departments could be added to the list “up until the start of the convention,” officials said.
The U.S. Secret Service is the leading coordinating agency for next week’s events.
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Republicans from across the country will descend on Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum arena to nominate their candidate for president. Former President Donald Trump’s nomination this week is considered a formality as he clinched the nomination in March after amassing the 1,125 delegates needed. Trump has yet to announce a vice president.
The convention begins Monday and goes through Thursday, with the official nomination of the presidential candidate and running mate expected Monday afternoon.
Milwaukee is considered a Democratic stronghold, but hosting the convention in Wisconsin, a battleground state, puts the Republican Party’s message in front of key voters.
Nicole Spagna contributed to this report.
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