Capitol bomb threat: Suspect in police custody after hours-long standoff and demand to speak with Biden
US Capitol Police arrest Floyd Ray Roseberry following five-hour standoff
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A man suspected of initiating a bomb threat in Washington DC has surrendered to law enforcement following a nearly five-hour standoff.
Floyd Ray Roseberry, 49, from Grover in southern North Carolina, brought the nation’s capital to a standstill after streaming his rambling threats to Facebook while parked on the pavement outside the Library of Congress.
US Capitol Police reported that a bomb was not recovered from the truck but “but possible bomb making materials were collected” after Mr Roseberry’s arrest.
He reportedly told a Capitol Police officer at the scene that he had a bomb, and “the officer noticed what appeared to be a detonator in the man’s hand,” according to Capitol Police.
Roseberry “was communicating by holding up hand-written signs through the front, driver-side window,” police said.
Officers then gave him a phone “in hopes of trying to continue the dialogue.”
Following an hours-long standoff, he followed officers’ instructions and crawled away from the truck.
Nearby Capitol office buildings were evacuated. Both the House and the Senate are on recess, meaning most lawmakers are in their home states, but staffers and Library of Congress employees were working near the scene, prompting the evacuations. Police also went door to door to alert residents in the area.
An eyewitness says she saw a man in a black pickup truck in front of the Library of Congress shouting that he had “a bomb” while tossing dollar bills out of the window.
Sydney Bobb, 22, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said she was on her way to a race in politics class near the Library of Congress at about 9.25am when she noticed the man in the vehicle.
“I was walking on that block because that’s where I go to class. He was shouting that he had a bomb. And then he threw money out the side of the truck,” Ms Bobb told The Independent by phone as she was being evacuated from her class.
The FBI and Department of Justice are assisting with the case.
Republican House member says he ‘understands’ fury at ‘dictatorial socialism’ amid Capitol bomb threat
Alabama House Representative Mo Brooks issued a statement during the Capitol bomb threat investigation, saying that “although this terrorist’s motivation is not yet publicly known ... generally speaking, I understand citizenry directed anger directed at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty”.
Bomb threat suspect called 911 himself, trying to attract attention
Bomb threat suspect Floyd Ray Roseberry, 49, called 911 himself to attract attention, MSNBC reported.
Police say they have no indication so far to believe that he has a background in law enforcement, or that he was working with anyone else.
Roseberry initially communicated with police via a dry erase board, but officers later delivered a phone to him using a robot. After not using the phone to speak with law enforcement, Roseberry eventually surrendered peacefully.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thanks law enforcement following Capitol bomb threat
“Today, once again, the Capitol Police, FBI and other law enforcement dealt with a potential threat to the Capitol Hill community,” Ms Pelosi said in a statement.
“The immense gratitude of the Congress is with all law enforcement officers who today and all days sacrifice to keep the Capitol Complex and those within it safe,” she added.
DHS updated terror bulletin over online calls for violence days before ‘bomb’ threat
Days before US Capitol Police identified a bomb threat outisde the Library of Congress, the US Department of Homeland Security updated its advisory system to reflect the state of conspiracy theory- and political and culture war-related violence that has proliferated online.
The latest update from the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin warns that “domestic terrorists” as well as “individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence” or “motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences” are “increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.”
More on federal law enforcement’s ongoing assessments of online threats tied to election- and grievance-based conspiracy theories:
DHS updated terror bulletin over online calls for violence days before ‘bomb’ threat
Federal law enforcement has repeatedly pointed to online threats tied to election- and grievance-based conspiracy theories
Mo Brooks says he ‘understands’ anger toward socialism in response to Capitol bomb threat
Far-right US Rep Mo Brooks of Alabama said he understands “anger directed at dictatorial Socialism” after a pro-Trump North Carolina man allegedly threatened Capitol Hill with a bomb in his truck.
Eric Garcia has more:
Mo Brooks says he ‘understands’ anger toward socialism after Capitol bomb threat
Brooks is a leading candidate in Alabama’s Senate race
Roads reopened after truck involved in bomb threat ‘cleared'
Road closures surrounding the bomb threat near the Library of Congress have been lifted, and residents can return home, according to Washington DC police.
Cannon Building reopened
US Capitol Police have authorised reentry at the Cannon House Office Building.
Capitol Police: ‘A bomb was not found in the vehicle, but possible bomb making materials were collected from the truck'
US Capitol Police report that a bomb was not recovered from the truck but “but possible bomb making materials were collected” after the suspect was arrested.
The suspect, 49-year old Floyd Ray Roseberry, reportedly told a Capitol Police officer at the scene that he had a bomb, and “the officer noticed what appeared to be a detonator in the man’s hand,” according to Capitol Police.
Roseberry “was communicating by holding up hand-written signs through the front, driver-side window,” police said.
Officers then gave him a phone “in hopes of trying to continue the dialogue.”
The FBI is working on the case with Capitol Police to determine the suspect’s background and motive.
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