City Hall to close for inauguration as a precaution

City Hall will close Wednesday as a precautionary measure amid nationwide threats of violence on Inauguration Day.

The closure was “purely precautionary” and authorities anticipate the city and suburbs will remain peaceful, the county and Office of Emergency Management and Communications said in a joint statement.

Officials said they are not aware of any planned protests or gatherings in the city or in suburban Cook County related to the inauguration.

Still, the city will deploy its Emergency Operation’s Center Wednesday to coordinate any public safety response, if needed.

The city initially said the County Building at 69 W. Washington St. would be closed as well, but later clarified that the building would remain open. Instead, the county will close its offices at 118 N. Clark St., located at City Hall.

Several police agencies nationwide were preparing for violence following a deadly riot Jan. 6 carried out by Trump-inspired mobs that stormed the U.S. Capitol.

The FBI warned of plans for armed protests in all 50 states ahead of President-elect Joseph Biden’s inauguration.