A 19-year-old man named Sai Varshith Kandula has been charged with multiple offenses, including threatening to kill or harm the president, vice president, or their family members. The charges stem from an incident where Kandula allegedly rammed a truck into bollards outside a park near the White House in Washington DC. The US Park Police and US Secret Service arrested him after the incident. Kandula is also facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
During the arrest, law enforcement officers discovered a Nazi flag inside the truck, which was later removed along with a black backpack and a roll of duct tape. The cargo area of the truck appeared to be empty.
Kandula, originally from Chesterfield, Missouri, graduated from Marquette Senior High School in 2022.
According to law enforcement sources, Kandula traveled from Missouri to Dulles International Airport before renting the truck and driving towards the White House. Witnesses reported that he waved the flag and shouted before officers detained him. Kandula allegedly expressed his desire to seize power, take over the government, and kill the president.
Law enforcement officials have not provided further details about the nature of the alleged attack or the suspect. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no injuries to Secret Service or White House personnel were reported.
Following the incident, some accounts on social media, including on Elon Musk’s Twitter, falsely claimed that it was a “false flag” or a “hoax.” These claims mirror baseless statements made after previous incidents involving individuals with extremist ideologies. Some right-wing pundits and personalities have also falsely suggested that news organizations are labelling the suspect as a “white supremacist” to undermine the incident and downplay the threat of white supremacist violence.
Mr. Kandula appeared in court in Washington on Tuesday, but he has not yet entered a plea.
Given the recent surge in threats against government officials and the previous storming of the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump on January 6, this incident is expected to raise concerns and alarm on Capitol Hill.
The investigation into Sai Varshith Kandula’s motive and plans is ongoing, and further details may emerge as the case progresses.