Topline
A man with a January 6-related warrant was arrested Thursday after being caught with materials to make explosives in former President Barack Obama’s Washington, D.C., neighborhood, multiple outlets are reporting.
Former President Barack Obama speaks during the SNF Nostos Conference at Stavros Niarchos Foundation … [+]
Key Facts
The man was identified to news outlets as Taylor Taranto, 37, of Seattle.
Taranto was charged with being a fugitive from justice and was arrested under an outstanding warrant.
CBS reported that Secret Service spotted him within blocks of the former president’s home; he was reportedly running toward the Obama’s home, but was apprehended by Secret Service before reaching it.
Taranto, who was arrested near his parked van, was allegedly in possession of weapons and materials that could have been used to create an explosive device similar to a Molotov cocktail, according to the CBS report.
Obama was not home at the time of the incident, according to an Al Arabiya reporter that was on scene.
Key Background
Multiple outlets reported that Taranto’s Telegram contained links to conspiracy theories regarding the Obamas’ D.C. home. Taranto was a participant in the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. His presence at the attack was first identified by an online group called the “Sedition Hunters” and later confirmed by investigators who found evidence of Taranto admitting he was in the Capitol. Taranto is currently facing a lawsuit for assault and battery, wrongful death and aiding and abetting that was levied by the widow of a police department officer who Taranto allegedly attacked alongside another man.
Further Reading
Man with weapons and Jan. 6 warrant arrested after running toward Obamas’ D.C. home – CBS News (CBS News)
Jan 6th Suspect Arrested After Bomb Threat to Obamas’ Washington D.C. Home (The Messenger)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/06/29/man-allegedly-possessing-explosive-materials-arrested-near-obamas-dc-home/