First, there was the Texas mall shooter, a Hispanic man named Mauricio Garcia, who was found to allegedly have Nazi swastika tattoos according to uncovered social media images on an obscure Russian website uncovered by a contractor with the CIA-connected Bellingcat.
Now, we have an incident equally as bizarre, but perhaps even more baffling in terms of the circumstances, the lack of clear motive, and the suspect’s apparent profile.
A U-Haul truck crashed into a security barrier near the White House on Monday night in what federal officials suspect was an intentional act.
U-Haul truck crashes near the White House.
I wonder if a manifesto has already been written on behalf of the driver… pic.twitter.com/A8qV64Yiir
— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) May 23, 2023
The truck was found to have a Nazi flag inside, further raising concerns among local authorities.
Because cops always pull evidence out of a potential terrorist vehicle and unfold it neatly facing the media and then carefully fold it back up and remove it. This is a thing police always do. https://t.co/Myn2ZoyNSf pic.twitter.com/x3XplOxiX0
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) May 23, 2023
The suspect’s name? Sai Varshith Kandula, a 19-year-old from Chesterfield, Missouri, who was subsequently arrested and charged by the U.S. Park Police.
Breaking News: I have a very reliable tip that the driver of the U-haul that crashed into Lafayette Square near the White House gate is Sai Varshith Kandula. This pic is from his Missouri Driver's License. pic.twitter.com/XNLmN9l39J
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) May 23, 2023
Fortunately, no Secret Service or White House personnel were injured during the incident, according to a Secret Service spokesman.
The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. when the U-Haul truck forcefully broke through barriers at the north side of Lafayette Square, located near Black Lives Matter Plaza on 16th Street NW.
The suspect who drove the U-Haul into security barriers near the White House, carrying a swastika flag, which was carefully and perfectly laid out on the ground by authorities for the perfect photo-op, has been identified.
His name is Sai Varshith Kandula. pic.twitter.com/5bt0vIzHk7
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) May 23, 2023
U.S. Park Police released a statement indicating that their initial investigation suggests Kandula intentionally crashed the truck into the bollards surrounding Lafayette Park. It remains unclear whether Kandula has legal representation, and information about his court appearance has not been immediately disclosed.
Kandula is facing several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, threatening to harm the president, vice president, or their family members, destruction of federal property, and trespassing. The authorities have not yet released any information regarding a possible motive for his actions.
An eyewitness, Benjamin Berger, who was visiting Washington, D.C., at the time, described hearing the crash and witnessing the truck repeatedly ramming into the barrier. He expressed his concern and quickly moved away from the scene, joining others who were fleeing.
Video footage and a law enforcement source revealed that a red flag featuring a Nazi symbol was found in the truck. Following the incident, a bomb squad was dispatched, and a robot was used to safely open the U-Haul. After conducting a thorough search, the Secret Service confirmed that the truck posed no further threat.
President Joe Biden’s whereabouts at the time of the incident were not immediately known, according to NBC News. However, law enforcement officials informed NBC News that no weapons or explosives were discovered inside the truck. The suspect did, however, allegedly make threatening statements related to the White House.
Visible tire marks on a curb near a series of metal poles around Lafayette Park served as a testament to the force of the collision. As a result of the ongoing investigation, streets from 15th to 17th Streets NW, and H to K Streets NW, have been temporarily closed, causing disruptions to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
The Metropolitan Police Department, along with D.C. Fire and EMS, is providing assistance in the investigation.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion.