A man has been arrested outside a Washington DC cathedral shortly after police discovered around 200 homemade explosives in his tent.
The 41-year-old New Jersey resident, Louis Geri, was detained on Sunday outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, hours before a high-profile 'Red Mass' Catholic service was set to begin.
Police said Geri, who had previously been banned from the site, refused to leave after pitching a tent nearby.
According to DC police, officers found “multiple suspicious items, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks, inside of the suspect’s tent".
A statement added that the bomb disposal and arson teams “secured the scene” and confirmed “there is no threat to public safety".
Investigators later uncovered roughly 200 devices, including Molotov cocktails and bottle rockets, as reported by The Washington Post.
Geri faced charges of possessing a Molotov cocktail, making threats to harm others, and unlawful entry.
He was ordered to remain in custody without bond while the FBI, ATF and Joint Terrorism Task Force continue the investigation.
Court documents suggest Geri had expressed hostility toward US Supreme Court justices, the Catholic Church, Jewish people and immigration authorities.
While the Red Mass went ahead as planned, several Supreme Court justices who were due to attend reportedly stayed away following the incident.
The centuries-old Red Mass marks the start of the judicial year and is held “in honour of those who practice law", according to the Archdiocese of Washington.
It is named for “the colour of the liturgical vestments worn by the celebrants and the colour of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit".