Man Arrested at Capitol with Molotov Cocktails Targeting Trump Administration

Authorities took a man into custody after he arrived at the U.S. Capitol armed with multiple knives and two homemade incendiary devices known as Molotov cocktails. Ryan English, who approached Capitol Police around 3 p.m. on a Monday, had crafted the cocktails using 50-milliliter bottles of Absolut vodka with cloth soaked in hand sanitizer affixed to the tops. During the encounter, officers discovered a green BIC lighter in his pants pocket, and he expressed a desire to turn himself in.

As officers conducted a search, English informed them that the contents of the bottles were vodka and the cloths were intended to serve as wicks. He stated that he came to the Capitol with the intent to "kill Scott Bessent" and had more Molotov cocktails stored in his car. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a larger 750-milliliter bottle of Smirnoff vodka along with a grey sweatshirt, the fabric of which matched the cloth used in his homemade devices.

Authorities traced English's journey from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C., noting he had premeditated plans to target the Secretary of Defense and the Speaker of the House. He also reportedly intended to set fire to the Heritage Foundation, located just two blocks from the White House. English’s plan evolved after he came across Reddit posts regarding Bessent's confirmation hearings, leading to a shift in his intended target.

Initially, he contemplated using small vodka bottles to ignite fires at Bessent’s feet, employing the knife from home if he got close enough. After assessing the difficulty of approaching Trump officials upon reaching the Capitol, he expressed an acceptance of a possible "suicide by cop" scenario before choosing to turn himself in. He now faces multiple charges, including the unlawful possession and transfer of a firearm and bringing dangerous weapons and explosive devices onto Capitol grounds.