National security officials admit they're worried about violence at upcoming conventions

Feds fear violence at the GOP and Democratic conventions.

(Image credit: TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/Getty Images)

published 14 July 2016

Even with the federal government sending at least 30,000 security personnel to both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention, top national security officials admitted Thursday they're still concerned about the threat of violence. The Hill reported that both Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the House Homeland Security Committee that they're worried the events might be a target for attacks, or that protests could go dangerously awry. "I am concerned about the possibility for violence," Johnson said.

Comey expressed concern as well, though he said the FBI is already planning to supervise the event with the utmost caution. "It's a threat we're watching very, very carefully," Comey said. "There's a concern any time there's an event like this that people from across a spectrum of radical groups will be attracted to it. So we're watching it very, very carefully."