A Massachusetts man was arrested just steps from the U.S. Capitol after voluntarily approaching police and admitting he was carrying weapons, including homemade Molotov cocktails. The suspect, 24-year-old Ryan Michael English, told officers he wanted to surrender. When they searched him, they found a folding knife and two small vodka bottles rigged as firebombs in his jacket pockets.
Authorities later searched his car, where they found another vodka bottle and a sweatshirt with cut sleeves—the same material used for the makeshift wicks in his incendiary devices.
Who He Allegedly Planned to Target
Investigators say English had a list of high-profile political figures he intended to attack. His alleged targets included House Speaker Mike Johnson, newly appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He reportedly referred to Hegseth as a “Nazi” and said he also wanted to burn down the Heritage Foundation, a well-known conservative think tank.
Before heading to the Capitol, English left behind a note for a loved one, apologizing for what he was about to do. It read: “F*** them for pushing us so far. You don’t deserve this.”
Facing Serious Charges
After being arrested, English is now being charged with federal offenses, such as carrying an incendiary device to Capitol property and unlawfully transporting a handgun. Given the ongoing political unrest, his arrest coincides with increased security concerns in Washington, D.C.
A potential court date has not yet been disclosed by authorities, and it is unknown if English has hired legal counsel.
