Authorities in Washington are investigating the number "8647" written on a lawn as a possible threat against Trump
Washington police have launched an investigation after the large numbers “8647” appeared on the lawn of the National Mall. Law enforcement officials are treating the message as a possible threat against U.S. President Donald Trump and are working to determine how it came to be there.
The number “8647”—which is commonly used to express opposition to Trump’s policies—appeared on Thursday on the grass of the National Mall, just days before huge crowds are expected to for a massive crowd to gather for a UFC fight taking place on Sunday, the U.S. president’s birthday.
Live webcam footage taken from the top of the Washington Monument shows the numbers appearing as dried grass along a significant portion of the National Mall.
According to witnesses, around 1:00 p.m., several emergency vehicles blocked access to the area, and the U.S. Army’s “Golden Knights” parachute team landed on the National Mall.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told CNN: “Anyone who participates in or supports political violence or a culture of murder should be condemned in the strongest terms.”
The Secret Service and the FBI referred a request for comment to the U.S. National Park Police, which, according to those agencies, is investigating the evidence.
A law enforcement source told CNN that the Secret Service will cooperate with the National Park Police once law enforcement identifies a suspect.
A spokesperson for the National Park Police noted that the cause of the grass discoloration has not yet been determined. According to him, samples have been taken for analysis.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Mall, called the graffiti “crazy vandalism” in a statement, adding that it “will not be tolerated.”
“Any threat against the president is taken very seriously by the department, and our U.S. Park Police are investigating this incident and will hold those responsible accountable,” the spokesperson said.
The numbers “86 47” were used to express opposition to Trump, although his administration interpreted them as a threat against the president.
In April, former FBI Director James Comey was accused by the Department of Justice of threatening the president for posting an image on Instagram in which the numbers were spelled out using seashells.
The number “86” is often used as a code in the restaurant industry to mean canceling an order or asking a customer to leave, while Trump is the 47th president of the United States.
Source: CNN.
Prior to this, Trump stated that Iran had agreed to the U.S. demand not to develop nuclear weapons
Earlier, Iran launched a missile strike on the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where U.S. military personnel and contractors were stationed. The attack resulted in minor injuries among personnel and damage to U.S. drones. The incident occurred amid U.S. efforts to negotiate an extension of the ceasefire with Tehran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and continues to interact with those around him, though he does so cautiously and primarily through written messages and intermediaries. Officials in Washington note that his activity has been increasing recently.
