U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) announced Tuesday (Nov 4) that officers arrested a man who “smelled like fuel” and had a torch and a flare gun at the U.S. Capitol.
According to USCP Chief Thomas Manger, the 28 year-old man, identified only as a white male, entered the visitor’s center and looked around for a moment before being told by officers to put his coat and backpack through security.
WUSA9 reports, “He stood there for a few seconds and then put his stuff on the conveyor belt. As soon as his coat and backpack went through the screening area, U.S. Capitol Police officers saw something that appeared to be a firearm as well as two bottles,” Manger said. “As they were standing there, one of the officers noticed a faint odor of gasoline. When they pulled the backpack off the conveyor belt they noticed a much stronger odor of gasoline. At that point the suspect was detained. He was placed under arrest. We found a flare gun and a torch lighter in his jacket. There were also other articles in his backpack. He is now in custody. Again, a very active investigation.”
The man told officers he had papers with him he wanted to deliver to Congress. The chief also said while some of the man’s clothing smelled like gasoline, it did not appear he had doused himself.
USCP posted notice of the arrest on X, formerly Twitter, just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The House was expected to meet for a brief pro forma session at 5 p.m.. The visitor’s center, which serves as the starting point for tours of the Capitol, is open nearly every day of the year regardless of whether Congress is in session.
Manger said his department has been on heightened alert for any potential violence on Election Day, but “there’s no indication right now that it had anything to do with the election.”
Every state attorney general in the country released a letter Monday condemning possible political violence.
“We expect that Americans will respond peacefully” regardless of the outcome, the attorneys general said in the letter.