“No credible threat” to Obama after assassination plot foiled
A possible assassination attempt on presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama may have been foiled quite by accident.
On Monday, Denver police made a lucky traffic stop when they pulled over a man identified as Tharin Robert Gartrell for driving a rental truck erratically.
Inside the truck, officers found two high-powered rifles, a bulletproof vest and other gear.
Authorities quickly uncovered a conspiracy between Gartrell and several other suspects to kill Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
According to KOIN News, the FBI has arrested four people as part of an investigation into a possible conspiracy to assassinate Illinois Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
The plot was reportedly brought to light after Denver police pulled over a man identified as Tharin Robert Gartrell for erratic driving.
Inside the 28-year-old man’s rental truck, officers found a variety of suspicious gear, including two high powered rifles, a bullet proof vest, wigs, camouflage clothing and quantity of meth.
Gartrell was arrested at approximately 1:30am on Sunday and taken into custody. Police proceeded to track down three other suspects in connection with the guns and equipment found in the rental truck.
Thirty-three year old Nathan Johnson was arrested in a Denver area hotel early Sunday morning. Johnson reportedly stated, according to PerezHilton.com, that he had nothing to do with the conspiracy to kill Barack Obama, but that his friends “were here to do that—to assassinate him.”
Johnson told authorities that Gartrell “planned to kill Barack Obama at his acceptance speech” because “blacks don’t belong in political office.”
Another suspect, 33-year-old Shawn Robert Adolf was arrested at a hotel after attempting to flee from police by jumping out of a window.
Adolf broke his ankle after leaping out a window six stories above the ground. After his arrest, Adolf reportedly told police that he and his friends had to murder Barack Obama during his acceptance speech at the Convention on Thursday.
Adolf reportedly was wearing a swastika ring and may have ties to white supremacist organisations.
An unidentified woman was also arrested and is being held by the FBI.
The FBI is now investigating the case and questioning suspects to uncover whether anyone else was involved in the reported assassination plot.
US Attorney Troy Eid, who is in charge of the case, stated that he is “absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate [Barack Obama], the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado,” according to KOIN.com.
“Federal law enforcement is working hand-in-glove with the Aurora Police Department. Because this matter is currently under investigation, there is little we can say right now,” Eid said in a statement to the press.
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