This is not good.
Law enforcement officials arrested a man in Washington, D.C., who possessed materials for creating explosives and had an active warrant related to the events of January 6, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter. The arrest took place in the neighborhood where former President Barack Obama resides.
Identified as 37-year-old Taylor Taranto from Seattle, Washington, the suspect was spotted near the Obamas’ residence by the Secret Service, as stated by a law enforcement official familiar with the incident. Taranto attempted to flee, but was pursued and apprehended by the Secret Service before reaching the Obamas’ home.
At the location of his arrest, Taranto’s van was discovered nearby. Law enforcement officials, who were familiar with the case details, found multiple weapons and the necessary materials to construct an explosive device similar to a Molotov cocktail. However, the components had not yet been assembled.
U.S. officials expressed concern due to Taranto’s recent livestreams on social media, during which he made threats against a public figure. Additionally, he had an outstanding warrant related to the assault on the U.S. Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021. Authorities emphasized that Taranto’s presence in Obama’s neighborhood was not a coincidence.
A senior law enforcement official disclosed that Taranto had been in the Washington, D.C., area for a few months. He had been observed camping out in his van near the D.C. jail, where many of the January 6 defendants are held. Some of Taranto’s livestreams were seemingly posted while he was in the vicinity of Washington, D.C.
Taranto has been charged with being a fugitive from justice, as confirmed by the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fortunately, no injuries resulted from the incident, and it remains unclear whether the Obamas were present in their home at the time.