Military tells DC residents ‘don’t panic’ at seeing tanks on the streets

The U.S. Army is warning Washington, D.C., residents not to panic if they see tanks and armored personnel carriers in their neighborhoods this week, WUSA9 reports.

At least two Bradley military tanks were moved from a rail yard to the National Mall Tuesday night ahead of President Trump’s Fourth of July “Salute to America” celebration on Thursday, an Army spokesperson told the station.

“You’ll see them moving through your neighborhood, but don’t panic,” the spokesperson said.{mosads}

Two M1A1 Abrams tanks are planned to be moved to the Mall on Wednesday night, according to WUSA9.

It wasn’t clear which routes the vehicles would take to get through the city.

Trump plans to deliver remarks from the Lincoln Memorial as part of the Fourth of July festivities. The event will include flyovers by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and a jetliner used as Air Force One.

The event will also feature one of the capital’s longest fireworks displays, thanks to donations of displays valued at $750,000.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and the D.C. Council, have expressed concerns about the event, ranging from unnecessary cost to taxpayers to fear that the tanks could damage local infrastructure. 

Rep. Don Beyer (D), who represents a Northern Virginia district, said Trump should personally reimburse taxpayers for any damage done to local infrastructure during the event, saying the president’s “attempts to make the annual Independence Day celebration in the National Capital Region about himself are appalling” and will “come at a great cost to taxpayers, and threaten significant harm to local roads and bridges.”