Incident at Washington Cathedral
Authorities reportedly found over 200 improvised explosive devices along with writings expressing animosity toward Catholics, Jews, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a tent at a Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
This incident unfolded in front of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle just hours before a Supreme Court Justice was set to convene for the new term. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) stated that officers confronted the suspect on that Sunday.
As officers approached, they noticed red substances and informed a man inside a green tent that he needed to leave. The suspect, identified as Louis Guerri, allegedly warned the officer to call for backup, mentioning he might have a bomb.
Following this, bomb squad officers arrived and informed Guerri that they needed to clear the area before the scheduled Mass. Guerri seemed aware of the Supreme Court meeting and, according to documents, he even suggested testing one of his explosives.
Guerri reportedly asked, “Do you want me to throw one, do I test one in the street? I have over 100 of them.” When further pressed, he ominously added, “some of your people will die from one of these.”
Documents indicate that Guerri had written notes expressing his significant hostility toward various groups, including the Catholic Church and those affiliated with the Supreme Court and ICE. During the investigation, he allegedly had a lighter and some vials containing an unknown yellow liquid in his possession.
As authorities tried to manage the situation, Guerri reached into a dark bag, suggesting he was ready to carry out his threats. Officers managed to observe Guerri walking toward a tree near the church, where another vial with yellow liquid was discovered along with a cache of homemade devices in his tent. His New Jersey driver’s license was also recovered.
According to court documents, Guerri claimed that he intended to use a thermite solution to craft destructive devices. He was reportedly banned from St. Matthew’s Cathedral just days prior due to earlier misconduct. The charges filed against him include illegal entry, threats, and possession of Molotov cocktails.
