Police arrest man at US Capitol smelling of fuel who had manifesto, flare gun and blow torch

U.S. Capitol Police announced Tuesday that officers arrested a antheral who "smelled similar fuel" and had a torch and a flare weapon astatine the U.S. Capitol.

Capitol constabulary said the man, whose sanction was not instantly released, was stopped during the information screening process astatine the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). 

"The CVC is closed for tours for the day, portion we investigate. We volition supply much accusation erstwhile we can," Capitol police posted connected X. 

Fox is told the fishy besides wrote a 25-page manifesto and indicated that connected Tuesday helium intended to present it to Congress. 

The apprehension happened astir 12:30 p.m. ET, legislature information sources and those acquainted with the probe told Fox News. 

GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE BUSINESSES ERECT BARRICADES IN PREPARATION FOR ELECTION DAY

The sources said the suspect's apparel reeked of substance and his apparel were wet. Capitol Police picked up connected this instantly and arrested him. His apparel were removed immediately, the sources added. 

A presumption of the U.S. Capitol successful Washington D.C., connected Nov. 4, 2024, up of the Presidential Election.  (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The sources confirmed the fishy had a stroke torch, a flare weapon and different flammable liquids with him. 

One elder root told Fox News that investigators were not definite if the fishy intended to self-immolate himself. 

The fishy is described arsenic being a White antheral successful his late-20s who drove each nighttime from Michigan to the Capitol. 

Sources said the fishy appears to beryllium acting unsocial and was not connected the U.S. Capitol Police's radar. 

A presumption of the information obstruction adjacent the U.S. Capitol successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 4, 2024, up of the Presidential Election.  (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Capitol constabulary told Fox News Digital the probe was ongoing and declined to supply further accusation astir the suspect. 

The apprehension happened connected Election Day, arsenic voters crossed the state caput to the polls. The presidency and power of some chambers of Congress are astatine stake. 

NEW SECURITY FENCES SEEN AROUND KEY DC SITES AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY

On Monday, the Secret Service confirmed that it was erecting barriers astir large sites successful the nation's capital, including the White House and the vice president's residence astatine the U.S. Naval Observatory. 

Meanwhile, backstage businesses successful large cities, similar New York, Portland and Washington, D.C., person besides followed suit by boarding up their storefronts. 

Businesses adjacent the White House acceptable up information measures successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 4, 2024, up of imaginable unit connected and aft the Nov. 5 election.  (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

In a connection to Fox News Digital, the Secret Service said it was "working closely" with federal, authorities and section partners successful some the nation's superior and Palm Beach County, Florida, successful bid to instrumentality "heightened levels of information and security" up of Tuesday's election. In summation to the White House and the Naval Observatory, fencing volition besides artifact disconnected the Treasury Department successful Washington, D.C., and authorities person utilized bike-rack barriers to fortify the Capitol, according to The Washington Post. 

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Meanwhile, Howard University, wherever Harris volition beryllium connected predetermination night, volition besides spot heightened information measures, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department indicated. 

This is simply a processing story. Please cheque backmost for updates. Fox News' Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.