A right-wing extremist with a machete and bayonet in his car has been arrested in the American capital Washington near the Democratic party headquarters.
The pickup of the man from the state of California, painted with a swastika, caught a police patrol on Monday night, the Capitol police announced.
The 44-year-old was arrested for “possessing prohibited weapons” - machetes and bayonets are illegal in Washington.
The man said he was on "patrol," according to police, and then started talking about right-wing extremist ideologies.
A photo released by the police showed a swastika painted on the side mirror of the car and another swastika inside the car.
The man also had animal antlers attached to the hood of the pickup truck.
Right-wing groups plan a demonstration at the Capitol
The police are investigating the suspect.
"At the moment it is not clear whether he wanted to take part in one of the upcoming demonstrations or whether he has links to previous cases in the area," the police said without further elaboration.
Right-wing groups want to demonstrate at the Capitol next Saturday.
They want to stand up for attackers arrested after the Capitol storm on January 6th, whom they refer to as “political prisoners”.
The planned rally has called the security authorities on the scene.
Before the demonstration, as after the storming of the Capitol, a barrier is to be erected around the Capitol.
Radical supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the congress building when the election victory of the Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election in November was to be certified there.
Hundreds of attackers were arrested in the course of the investigation.
Almost a month ago, a man who claims to have had a bomb in his car triggered a large-scale police operation that lasted for hours near the congress. The man who described himself as a "patriot" was finally arrested and no explosives were found. According to media reports, he suffers from psychological problems.