U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) said they have arrested a person who tried to set his car on fire near the U.S. Capitol during President-elect Trump's visit late Wednesday.
“On two occasions today, our officers stopped a man who posed a potential danger to the Capitol community,” said U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Munger. “This vigilance is extremely important during this time of increased security.”
The agency said a 35-year-old man from Virginia attempted to set his car on fire while President Trump was visiting with Republican senators and paying tribute to President Carter.
Police arrested a man who tried to bring a machete and three knives into the Capitol just hours before Trump's arrival.
Panoramic view of the US Capitol Dome in Washington DC (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
According to police, just before 5:30 p.m., U.S. Communist Party troopers received a call about a man parked on First Street NW near the Grant Memorial and setting a bag on fire on top of his car.
Police arrest man in possession of fuel bottles, smoke bombs and torch at U.S. Capitol
As the officer ran towards the man, the bag disappeared on its own.
US Capitol Building in Washington DC (Reuters/Jason Reid)
Out of an abundance of caution, USCP said the vehicle was determined to be suspicious and the agency's Hazardous Incident Response Division removed the vehicle.
Authorities determined the car was not dangerous around 7 p.m.
The car was spray painted. Investigators determined there was an accelerant in the bag. The driver was arrested for illegal activity.
U.S. Capitol Police stopped a man at a security checkpoint as he tried to enter the Capitol after allegedly carrying a machete and three knives in his bag. (U.S. Capitol Police)
Hours before this arrest, USCP detained a man who attempted to bring a machete into the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
of capitol police In a social media post, he said the incident happened just after 2 p.m., when officers conducting security checks at the north entrance of the CVC found a machete in the man's bag. said.
The X-ray machine was turned off as the bag passed, and police arrested Mel J. Horn, 44, of Washington, D.C., before they could secure the machete.
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Police said Horn was arrested on multiple charges of possessing a dangerous weapon and will be interviewed by law enforcement to determine his motive.
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
