A 40-year-old man has been arrested after authorities received information about an alleged plan to carry out a violent attack at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it received what it described as credible information on the evening of Sept. 29 about an individual allegedly planning a violent attack for Oct. 1. Officials did not initially disclose specific details about the suspected plan, citing the ongoing investigation.
The suspect was identified as Benny Caldera Jr., a resident of Converse, a community near San Antonio. Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT officers arrested him at a residence at around 3 a.m. on Sept. 30 after responding to the information provided to authorities.
Caldera was initially booked into the Bexar County Jail and charged with making a terroristic threat against a public servant, a felony offense. Authorities later said he was taken into federal custody after the FBI became involved in the investigation and additional federal charges were being pursued.
Officials have not publicly released a complete account of the alleged plot or confirmed all of the intended targets. A notice sent to Texas lawmakers said the man arrested was considered the main suspect in a planned attack that was allegedly intended to take place at the Capitol on Oct. 1.
The notice also referred to suspected co-conspirators, although the Texas Department of Public Safety’s initial statement did not announce any additional arrests or publicly identify other suspects. Investigators were continuing to determine whether anyone else was involved.
Authorities increased the law-enforcement presence around the Texas Capitol following the arrest. Despite the reported threat, the Capitol remained open during regular operating hours, and no legislative hearings or events were scheduled for Oct. 1, according to information cited by local authorities.
The FBI assisted Texas authorities in making the arrest. State officials said the investigation remained active as federal and state investigators worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged plan.
The arrest followed a tip that was reported to authorities on Tuesday evening. Within several hours, SWAT officers had located the suspect at his residence and taken him into custody.
Additional reports citing people familiar with the investigation said authorities were examining allegations that the suspect had discussed carrying out a mass shooting at the Capitol. Those reports also said investigators were looking into firearms and ammunition allegedly associated with the suspect. These details were not included in the initial public statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Investigators were also examining whether the suspect acted alone or whether other people could have been connected to the alleged plan. Authorities have not announced that any co-conspirators have been arrested.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the Department of Public Safety had been assisted by the FBI in the arrest. He also said state authorities would not tolerate threats against the Capitol.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not released all of the evidence behind the alleged attack plan. Because the investigation is ongoing, officials have cautioned that additional details may emerge as investigators examine communications, potential weapons and other evidence.
The Texas Capitol continues to operate, with authorities maintaining an increased security presence while the investigation proceeds. Caldera faces criminal proceedings, and the allegations against him have not yet been resolved in court.
