30 June 2023 , 12:42
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A man wanted over his alleged role in the January 6 riots has been arrested after being caught near Barack Obama’s house with explosives.
Taylor Taranto was spotted by law enforcement a few streets from the former president's Washington DC home, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the matter.
The 37-year-old fled and Secret Service chased him and apprehended him before he reached the property.
It was not clear whether the Obamas were at their home at the time of his arrest, but no one was injured.
Taranto's van was parked close to where he was arrested and they found multiple weapons and the materials to make an explosive similar to a Molotov cocktail.
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Though it had not been built.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama (Getty Images)
Taranto was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police on charges of being a fugitive from justice (Twitter)Taranto had previously made threats during recent live streams on social media against a public figure and a US official told CBS News that he wasn't in Obama's neighbourhood by mistake.
He even live-streamed his activities before his arrest, including as he drove into the neighbourhood.
He said he wanted to interview John Podesta, a Democratic official who has been the focus of far-right conspiracy theories, and also spoke of the neighbourhood as containing underground tunnels.
Jason Bell, the Capitol Police’s acting assistant chief for protective and intelligence operations, said in a statement that his agency’s officers assisted in the investigation "due to a concern for public safety and the potential for violence against members of Congress."
The scene of the Capitol riots (AP)More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot.
Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty, while approximately 100 others have been convicted after trials.
More than 550 riot defendants have been sentenced, with over half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from six days to 18 years.
Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story .