Authorities from the U.S. Capitol Police arrested an individual armed with a torch and a flare gun while he tried to gain access to the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday.
Capitol Police’s official X account shared a post and revealed that the CVC is closed for touring today while authorities continue to investigate this incident. The department’s announcement said the man was stopped during security screening because officers smelled fuel on him. They later found that he had a torch and a flare gun.
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“Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The man smelled like fuel, had a torch & a flare gun. The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can,” the post read.
This year, election offices across the U.S. have strengthened their security, expecting possible violence due to lessons learned since 2020 and an increase in threats and harassment against election staff. Many offices have trained their employees in de-escalation techniques and conducted drills for active shooter situations or other emergencies.
They also have a system in place to identify potential criminal threats and to call for law enforcement assistance when necessary.
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Many election offices have been upgraded with bulletproof glass and steel doors for added protection. Some have bolstered their security teams or restricted access to their social media profiles to safeguard their personal lives. Additionally, new legislation and stricter enforcement against harassment have been implemented in response to the growing hostility.
Authorities are increasingly worried about the rise of the right-wing election denial movement, which began in 2020 after Trump refused to accept his loss to Joe Biden. His promotion of baseless conspiracy theories about the election energized large crowds at “Stop the Steal” protests, culminating in the events of January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt Congress’s certification of the election results.
