U.S. Capitol Police said Tuesday they arrested a man who “smelled like fuel” and was in possession of a flashlight and smoke bomb at the U.S. Capitol.
Capitol Police said the man, whose name was not immediately released, was stopped during security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
“Due to the investigation, CVC is not accepting tours that day. We will provide more information as soon as possible.” capitol police Posted in X.
Mr Fox reportedly indicated that the suspect had also written a 25-page manifesto and intended to submit it to Parliament on Tuesday.
The arrest occurred around 12:30 p.m. ET, a Capitol security official and a person familiar with the investigation told Fox News.
Government and private companies erect barricades in preparation for Election Day
Officials said the suspect's clothes smelled like fuel and were wet. Capitol Police immediately noticed this and arrested him. His clothes were quickly removed, the official added.
A view of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC on November 4, 2024, ahead of the presidential election. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Officials confirmed the suspect was in possession of a blowtorch, flare gun and other flammable liquids.
A senior source told Fox News that investigators are unsure whether the suspect intended to self-immolate.
The suspect, a white man in his late 20s, allegedly drove all night from Michigan to the Capitol.
Officials said the suspect appeared to be acting alone and was not on Capitol Police's radar.
A view of the security fence near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 4, 2024, ahead of the presidential election. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a Capitol Police spokesperson declined to provide additional information about the suspect, saying the investigation is ongoing.
The arrests occurred on Election Day, when voters across the country headed to polling places. The presidency and control of both houses of Congress are at stake.
New security fencing installed around key DC sites ahead of Election Day
On Monday, the Secret Service confirmed it was building barriers around key locations in the nation's capital, including the White House and the vice president's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Meanwhile, private businesses in major cities such as New York, Portland, and Washington, D.C., followed suit and closed their stores.
Businesses near the White House have taken security precautions in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 4, 2024, ahead of possible violence after the Nov. 5 election. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the Secret Service said it is “working closely” with federal, state and local partners in both the nation's capital and Palm Beach County, Florida, to “increase the level of safety and security” going forward. He said there was. About Tuesday's election. In addition to the White House and Naval Observatory, the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C., will also be fenced off, and authorities used bike rack fencing to fortify the Capitol, reports said. The Washington Post.
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Meanwhile, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department indicated that security would also be increased at Howard University, where Harris plans to vote on Election Day.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information. FOX News' Alec Shemel contributed to this report.
