L.A. Pride: Man targeting parade with weapons, explosives arrested
Police find ingredient for making pipe bombs in car
Police in Santa Monica have arrested a man reportedly headed for L.A. Pride in West Hollywood after finding explosives, assault rifles and ammunition in his car, the L.A. Times reports.
“They found him with weapons that were very disconcerting,” a source told the Times, adding that officials are “taking the appropriate safety precautions.”
The driver was pulled over after police were called about a suspected prowler. After inspecting his car, they found ammunition, weapons, and tannerite — and ingredient used in making pipe bombs. He told authorities he was in town for the Pride event scheduled for later today, though his car had Indiana plates.
Man with weapons, possible explosives arrested, said he was going to L.A. gay pride parade https://t.co/arXR35hCqx
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) June 12, 2016
A city official told the Times that security had been heightened at the pride event, with the FBI taking over the investigation into the unnamed driver. The parade will go ahead as planned, with no connection currently thought between the arrest and a mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando early this morning, which killed at least 50 people and injured at least 53.
#BreakingNews @ericgarcetti says arrest of man at #lapride festival is not related to shooting in Orlando. @NBCLA
— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) June 12, 2016
“We are out here to march, to celebrate and to mourn,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ahead of the parade. “This march goes on. We go on. We continue to love.”
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