Enrique Tarrio wearing a bulletproof vest on December 12, 2020 at a demonstration in Washignton.
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STEPHANIE KEITH / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Enrique Tarrio, 36, was arrested Monday in Washington.
The leader of the far-right “Proud Boys” militia was the target of an arrest warrant after his participation in the destruction of a “Black Lives Matter” banner during a demonstration which had degenerated.
It belonged to a church in the American capital.
The militiaman, who had just arrived from Florida, was charged with destroying property of the Asbury United Methodist Church.
He is also accused of having been in possession of two illegal high-capacity firearm magazines during his arrest, police said.
"Dangerous" violence
In another case revealed on Monday, Enrique Tarrio and other members of the "Proud Boys" are accused by the historic Metropolitan Church of AME, of also tearing and burning his banner during the protest last month, during which several people had been stabbed and dozens more arrested.
"The behavior of the 'Proud Boys' in Washington DC on December 12, 2020 represents a new and dangerous chapter in the long and horrific history of the violence exerted by mobs of white supremacists against black places of worship," the report reads. complaint filed by the church.
The arrest comes on the eve of two days of action in the U.S. capital in support of Donald Trump and his baseless claim that he won the November 3 election, and not Joe Biden.
Washington police said Monday they feared potential violence, including from groups like the "Proud Boys," and warned that people carrying guns would be arrested.
"We will not allow anyone to incite violence or intimidate our residents," warned the mayor of the capital, Muriel Bowser.
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