Election security on edge: Threats and tensions escalate
In the USA, the presidential elections are underway, and there have been some incidents. The police have detained a man with a torch and flare attempting to enter the Capitol. Meanwhile, authorities in Georgia reported that they had to temporarily halt voting due to bomb threats purportedly originating from Russia.
Capitol Police posted on social media that the man, who smelled of petrol, was detained at the entrance to the visitors' centre, where tours of the complex begin.
The centre "has been closed to tours while the investigation is ongoing," police stated, promising to provide further details when possible.
Meanwhile, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger stated on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT that two polling stations in Fulton County, near Atlanta, were temporarily closed due to bomb threats purportedly originating from Russia.
The official said the threats were not credible but required verification. Voting at these locations — in Union City, predominantly inhabited by African Americans — may be extended.
As reported in a statement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), threats from Russian email domains have been noted "in several states." "None of the threats have been deemed credible so far," the statement read.
The longest campaign since the 19th century
During this year's presidential elections in the USA, American society is reportedly the most divided since the Civil War in the mid-19th century, according to the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo".
The election campaign in the United States was described as "the longest, most expensive, and most extreme since the Civil War in 1861-1865," commented the newspaper. The degree of societal polarisation is also said to be "unprecedented," unseen since the mid-19th century, it adds.
According to "El Mundo," the race involves "two imperfect candidates, playing on ambiguities and mobilising identity politics, which reinforces the wartime vision of the country." The newspaper emphasizes that the election outcome, with huge stakes, remains a great mystery and can be likened to "a coin toss."
