WASHINGTON – An Alabama man reportedly parked a pickup truck loaded with 11 homemade bombs, an assault rifle and a pistol just two blocks from the United States Capitol building, according to federal prosecutors.
The revelation is one of the most disturbing details that federal prosecutors made public this week, while analyzing what happened when pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol. Others have been accused of bringing weapons and ammunition to the Capitol grounds.
Lonnie Leroy Coffman, 70, from Falkville, Alabama, is accused of planting the truck.
A bomb squad found the arsenal during the race to protect the federal compound after it was invaded by pro-Trump rioters.
Coffman was arrested and charged with possession of an unregistered gun and possession of a pistol without a license, CNN reported. He told police he had glass jars filled with “melted styrofoam and gasoline”. The police also found rags and lighters.
Federal investigators said the combination, if blown up, would have the effect of napalm “to the extent that it makes the flammable liquid stick better to objects it hits during detonation,” according to the court record.
Coffman had parked his truck at 9:15 am Eastern time at First St SE on the Hill, near the National Republican Club, commonly called the Capitol Hill Club. The truck had a pistol in the passenger seat, an M4 Carbine assault rifle, along with rifle clips loaded with ammunition, police said.
Coffman appeared before a federal judge this week and is being detained at least until his next court hearing on Tuesday.