Police officers in California arrested a man with weapons near a rally being held by Donald Trump, it has emerged.
The 49-year-old man was found in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and high-capacity magazine on Saturday afternoon local time.
Officers stopped him at a checkpoint near the rally in Coachella in a black SUV.
Local paper The Press-Enterpise quoted Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco as saying: “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”
VIPs and the media were being sent through police checkpoints where drivers were asked to open the boots and car bonnets of their vehicles, which were then searched by a K-9 officer.
Other ticket holders were sent to a site around three miles away from the rally.
From there, they were driven onto the site on buses.
Sheriff Bianco said his deputies became suspicious when the man presented fake VIP and press passes at a checkpoint, according to The Press-Enterprise.
The US Secret Service said in a statement: “We were contacted as it happened and secret service agents conducted a productive intelligence interview.
“It had no impact on the event and we are looking into the circumstances and the backgrounds of the individuals.”
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Riverside County Sherriff’s Office said in a statement: “On Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 4.59pm, deputies assigned to former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley contacted the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive.
“[The man] was taken into custody without incident and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event.”
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Donald Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.
The county sheriff’s office will hold a news conference at 3pm local time.
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