Texas Man Arrested in Alleged Plot to Attack State Capitol
A Texas man has been arrested on suspicion of planning a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol in Austin, state and federal authorities said. Investigators say the attack had been planned for Thursday, October 1.
Benny Caldera Jr., 40, of Converse, a suburb of San Antonio, was taken into custody at his home around 3 a.m. Wednesday by Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT officers working with the FBI.
A Tip Led to the Arrest
DPS said it received credible information Tuesday evening about "an individual planning a violent attack" at the Capitol. Within hours, officers had arrested Caldera at his residence.
He was charged with making a terroristic threat against a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a possible sentence of two to 10 years in prison in Texas, according to KSAT. He was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on a $75,000 bond.
Caldera was later released from the Bexar County Jail into federal custody, where he will remain, according to CBS Austin. DPS did not say what federal charges he may face and referred questions to the FBI.
What Investigators Have Said
Authorities have released few details about the alleged plan, citing the ongoing investigation.
An official briefed on the case told ABC News that Caldera had allegedly been threatening to carry out a mass shooting at the Capitol and had been collecting ammunition and guns, according to ABC13.
The official said Caldera had voiced anger over the state of the country. People who knew him reportedly contacted authorities after noticing he was growing angry and potentially violent. Family members and co-workers provided information to investigators, while Caldera and his wife were not cooperating, the official said.
John Bunk is listed as Caldera's attorney in the case.
Abbott: 'Texas Will NOT Tolerate Threats'
Gov. Greg Abbott praised the quick response from law enforcement.
"Texas DPS and the FBI stopped a planned attack on the Texas Capitol," Abbott said. "Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol."
DPS said there is no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat. The Capitol remained open during regular hours.
The Texas Legislature is not in regular session this year, since it meets in odd-numbered years. Still, the Capitol remains a busy workplace for state officials and staff and a popular stop for visitors and school groups.
Texas Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw notified senators of the arrest. "The investigation is ongoing, and there is and will continue to be an enhanced DPS presence at the Capitol," she wrote.
A Pattern of Plots Against Public Places
The arrest is the latest in a series of alleged plots targeting government buildings and high-profile events this year.
In August, a woman was charged in an alleged ISIS-inspired plan to bomb the New York State Capitol in Albany. In June, the FBI said it disrupted a plan to attack a White House UFC event with explosives and gunfire.
Late last year, federal authorities arrested four people accused of planning pipe bomb attacks across Los Angeles on New Year's Eve.
Concerns about political violence have also been heightened by heated rhetoric. Last month, attendees at the GOP midterm convention shouted "he should be shot" during a Ted Cruz speech, drawing bipartisan condemnation.
How to Report Suspicious Activity
DPS encourages Texans to report suspicious behavior through the iWatchTexas mobile app, online at iwatchtx.org or by calling the tip line at 844-643-2251.
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