Updated: Hearing for Accused WikiLeaks Source Could Snarl Local Traffic

Update at 11:30 a.m. Thursday

Anne Arundel County Police warned that protesters in support of PFC Bradley Manning will gather Friday morning outside the main gate of Fort Meade. Police also said one of the Eastbound lanes of Route 175 will be closed Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. The closure will extend from Blue Water Boulevard/Llewellyn Avenue to Reece Road. Protesters are expected to stage a vigil and march down Route 175 from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Original Story

Residents and workers near Fort Meade should be aware of possible traffic congestion and other delays on Friday and Saturday as a result of events related to the Article 32 hearing for accused "WikiLeaks" source PFC Bradley Manning.

Fort Meade officials issued a press release warning of “heavier than usual vehicle and visitor traffic to the installation” and delays along Route 175, but did not mention the hearing.

Manning is an Army intelligence specialist accused of leaking classified information to the website WikiLeaks. The pretrial hearing will begin Friday on Fort Meade and could last as long as five days.

The pretrial hearing itself is expected to generate additional traffic from attendees and media outlets. In addition, Manning’s supporters have planned at least two events near the main gate of Fort Meade on Friday and Saturday.

Supporters are planning a vigil on Friday near the Reece Road gate, and will hold a march and rally there on Saturday, the date of Manning’s 24th birthday, according to the website Bradleymanning.org.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has organized a bus trip to Fort Meade to participate in the vigil and rally.