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22 hours ago3 min read

CAPITOL STAFF AND VISITORS BE ALERT, SUSPECT DETAINED CARRYING A FLARE GUN AND TORCH AT CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER - CVC CLOSED FOR REMAINDER OF THE DAY

(The Situation Update Report [SUR] is a near real-time brief of a possible threat or situation being monitored by The Counter Threat Center.  The information is accurate at the time of reporting, but maybe subject to change.)  


Samuel Pearson, Zara Price, Anthony Krumme, Meaghan Mackey, Weapons and Tactics

Evan Beachler, Senior Editor

November 5, 2024


US Capitol Police[1]


Current Situation: The US Capitol Police (USCP) announced that they arrested a man after their officers stopped him during security screening for entry to the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The announcement said the individual possessed a torch and a flare gun and smelled of fuel. The CVC closed for the day while investigations continued.[2] 


Day/Time of event: November 5, 2024 / Around 1335 local time


What is the current threat:

  • Although the suspect has been detained, the presence of flammable materials such as fuel, a torch, and a flare gun on his person very likely indicates the need for a comprehensive sweep of the premises to ensure there are no additional incendiary items or secondary threats. Law enforcement and CVC security will almost certainly prioritize this search, focusing on areas the suspect may have accessed. Emergency response teams will very likely remain on standby if any latent hazards are detected, ensuring that potential risks to visitors and staff are mitigated.

  • The suspect’s limited equipment very likely suggests that threat actors will not require firearms or purpose-made weapons to endanger sensitive or high-value targets such as the CVC. This flexibility very likely reduces the detectability of weapons or devices that can be used to create chaos or injury.  

  • The arrest of the suspect almost certainly reduces the immediate risk to individuals in the CVC. The presence of dangerous items in a high-security location very likely points to a security vulnerability that could encourage similar attempts by others seeking to exploit the symbolic nature of the Capitol, especially on election day. Security protocols will almost certainly be immediately reviewed and temporarily reinforced, with additional screenings and access restrictions likely implemented at the CVC and surrounding federal buildings. These measures are very likely to serve as a deterrent and preventive steps against coordinated or copycat incidents.

  • The presence of a torch, flare gun, and the smell of fuel will almost certainly result in authorities investigating the man’s background and possible affiliations to determine if he intended to attack the CVC or planned on committing public protest, such as self-immolation, as a political statement. If the evidence points to a planned act of self-immolation, law enforcement will likely monitor social media and online forums for signs of planned protest actions and require fire suppression equipment near the CVC to mitigate the risk posed by such forms of protest.


Who will it directly impact:

  • Capitol visitors

  • Capitol staff

  • Capitol law enforcement

  • Federal law enforcement

  • CVC security team


OPTION 3

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[1] Capitol Police security screening, generated by a third party database

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