A man was arrested outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Supreme Court justices were scheduled to attend a Mass. Louis Geri, 41, from Vineland, New Jersey, had more than 200 explosive devices in his possession at the time of his arrest on Sunday. The situation became a serious threat just hours before what is traditionally a significant event for the justices, highlighting the rising concern over political violence.
According to court records, Geri was initially approached by police who asked him to move a tent he had set up on the steps of the cathedral. Instead of complying, Geri responded with hostility, threatening law enforcement by stating, “You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives,” as reported by the Washington Post. This incident forced the justices to cancel their attendance at the annual Red Mass.
The alarming nature of Geri’s intentions was further underscored by his threats to use the explosives. He made statements like, “Do you want me to throw one out? I’ll test one out on the streets. I have a hundred-plus of them,” and “If you just step back, I’ll take out that tree. No one will get hurt, there will just be a hole where that tree used to be.” Such comments reflect a disturbing mindset and an apparent willingness to cause destruction.
Further escalations occurred as Geri indicated he had a desire to demonstrate the power of the explosives, telling police, “You better have these people step away or there’s going to be deaths, I’m telling you now.” After a tense interaction, police took action during a moment when Geri walked away to urinate, at which point he revealed he had an explosive device on him. A D.C. police bomb squad member confiscated the device for safety.
The police response was swift and crucial. Law enforcement managed to apprehend Geri without escalating the potential for an explosion. Some of the devices he had in his possession were composed of nitromethane, a highly volatile chemical often found in homemade explosive devices, underscoring the seriousness of the thwarted attack.
In addition to the explosives, Geri handed a document to a police sergeant titled “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives.” This document contained indications of Geri’s animosity towards various groups, including the Catholic Church, minority communities, and the Supreme Court. His actions and statements have led to multiple serious charges, including the manufacture and possession of explosives, threats to injure persons, and resisting arrest.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals harboring extreme political views and intentions. Geri’s case is emblematic of a growing trend of political violence that raises considerable concern for public safety and the rule of law.
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