WASHINGTON, DC — A man who threatened to set off a
bomb on Washington's Capitol Hill surrendered to police Thursday, ending an
hours-long standoff that rattled lawmakers still shaken by January's pro-Trump
insurrection.
اضافة اعلان
The incident triggered evacuations and a massive police
response, and sent jolts of anxiety through a city that has spent months on
alert, as political tensions soared following the deadly US Capitol
riot.
The suspect, an apparent right-wing extremist identified by
authorities as Floyd Ray Roseberry of North Carolina, was broadcasting live on
social media from his truck, assailing President Joe Biden and Democrats,
warning of a "revolution," and complaining about the US government
and its policy in Afghanistan.
He had also claimed that four more sets of explosives were
lying in wait in Washington and that they would be detonated, along with his
bomb, if police used deadly force against him.
Much of the complex was cordoned off as officers and FBI
agents negotiated with the driver, who police said had appeared to have a
detonator in his hand.
Suddenly, after four hours of drama, it was over.
"He got out of the vehicle and surrendered, and the
tactical units that were close by took him into custody without incident,"
US Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Thomas Manger told reporters.
A subsequent search by law enforcement found no bomb in the
vehicle parked on the sidewalk next to the Library of Congress, "but
possible bomb making materials were collected from the truck," the USCP
said in a statement.
Manger said it was unclear what Roseberry's motives were,
but in his Facebook Live steam he issued a series of incoherent threats and
asked to speak to the president.
"I'm trying to get Joe Biden on the phone. I'm parked
up here on the sidewalk right beside all this pretty stuff," said the
bald-headed man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, wearing a white T-shirt.
"I'm not hurting nobody Joe. I'm not pulling the
trigger on this thing. I can't," he said. "I'm telling you, them
snipers come in, they start shooting this window out, this bomb's going
off."
'The revolution'
The live feed showed Roseberry in his vehicle holding a
metal cylinder topped with clay attached to a box with buttons and wires, but
it was ultimately determined not to be a viable explosive device.
While he did not claim a political affiliation, he referred
at one point to "the revolution" and said: "I'm looking for all
my other patriots to come out and help me."
Later he lashed out at Biden's party, saying: "You all
know what you're doing, Democrats? You're killing America."
A White House official said Biden was briefed on the
standoff.
As authorities revealed the threat, the Library of
Congress's main buildings were evacuated, as was the nearby US Supreme Court
and at least one of the three House office buildings.
Streets and buildings were re-opened and public
transportation resumed after police gave the all clear.
Read more
Region and World
.jpg)
.jpg)
