Man armed with an assault rifle was arrested on his way to the Los Angeles Gay Parade.
Police in Santa Monica Sunday arrested a man, armed with assault rifles and possibly explosives, who said he was in town for the Los Angeles gay parade. Santa Monica police were responding to a call about an individual who was lurking around early Sunday morning when they encountered the man, in or around a white Acura sedan with Indiana plates.
A subsequent search of his vehicle found several assault rifles, ammunition and tannerite – an explosive used in target practice and pipe bombs, according to the LA Times.
The man reportedly told the police he was waiting for a friend and was planning on going to the gay pride festival. A city official tells the LA Times security has since increased around the event.
One source in West Hollywood said there was discussion of calling off the parade but that officials decided to go forward, with heavy security including undercover officers in the crowd.
The arrest comes just hours after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 50 people and injuring several more. The alleged gunman’s father says he was motivated by anger after seeing two men kissing and it was not religiously motivated.
The FBI are now investigating in Santa Monica.
Via LA Times
