Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
With over three decades in specialist security - including counterterrorism and kidnapping - there's nothing Will Geddes doesn't know about keeping high-profile individuals safe from threats.
And apparently, that also includes the extreme measures that have been put into place today to protect newly sworn-in president Donald Trump - including a 'ring of steel' - after two attempts were made on his life last year.
The 78-year-old Republican was inaugurated at Washington D.C.'s Capital Rotunda earlier today (20 January), after the ceremony was moved indoors amid freezing cold weather.
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That said, however, the festivities will also be marked by a series of musical performances - including Rascal Flatts, Gavin DeGraw and Kid Rock - at a nearby stadium, which kick off later tonight after Trump's arrival.
As such, security measures were amped up in fear that another attempt could be made on the father-of-five's life.
Discussing the risk, Geddes exclusively told Tyla this week: "This particular presidential inauguration is going to be considered perhaps more controversial than any other previous ceremony, in so much as there have been two attempts on Trump's life whilst he was campaigning.
"There is every good possibility that, out of the hundreds of thousands of people turning up, there could be those that are seeking to demonstrate and voice their dissatisfaction at him being successful in achieving the presidency yet again."
Will also went on to discuss the measures that have been put into place ahead of today - paying particular attention to a ring of steel.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people expected to turn up to the inauguration ceremony," he began.
"In light of that, there are some 25,000 security professionals - comprising of military and law enforcement officers - who'll be assigned to today's event.
"In addition to that, they have mounted a ring of steel around the event itself, and some parts of that will be topped with razor wire."
The term 'ring of steel' is two-fold.
In one sense, it describes the security cordons surveillance cameras, clouds of drones, FBI agents and command centres, and military officers preventing dangerous individuals from getting close to the Capitol.
In another, it describes a physical ring - 30 miles of 'unclimbable' fence - circling the perimeter of the buildings Trump will attend.
This will serve as a blockage for groups of attackers, and vehicles.
Geddes also spoke of the importance of keeping an eye out for counter-drone units (CDUs) at the festivities, being that a ring of steel won't keep these out.
He said: "Obviously, one of the biggest concerns - certainly as we've seen in Ukraine - is the utilisation of drones with explosive packages attached them.
"So, they [the event's security team] will be conscious of - not only a ground threat - but a potential aerial threat as well."
In July of last year, whilst delivering a speech during an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump was targeted by a 20-year-old man, who fired eight rounds from an AR-15-style rifle from the roof of a nearby building.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was subsequently shot and killed by a member of the US Secret Service, after Trump endured a wound in his upper right ear.
Crooks killed one audience member and critically injured two others.
Just weeks later, another incident occurred at Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Florida estate, which saw a man was arrested from the scene, carrying an AK-47-style weapon in his hands.
Reflecting on the two attempts made on his life last year, Trump told Capitol Rotunda attendees today: "I was saved by God to make America great again."
