National Security

Philadelphia police arrest armed men allegedly heading to vote-counting center

Philadelphia police have arrested two armed men following a tip of an alleged plot to attack the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where ballots are currently being counted.

Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department arrested two men on firearms charges Thursday night after they were discovered carrying guns without valid Pennsylvania permits near the convention center, The Washington Post reported.

Both men, who were not named, were spotted with firearms by bike patrol officers. 

“This is a highly active investigation and we have no additional comment at this time,” the district attorney’s office said, according to the Post.

No one was harmed in the incident, according to the Post.

The men could potentially have ties to the conspiracy theory group QAnon. A Philadelphia Inquirer photographer Jessica Griffin captured photos of the Hummer that the men were traveling in which featured a QAnon decal on the back window. Police had discovered their empty silver Hummer at 10:20 p.m., the Post reported.

A hat that was visible on the front dashboard of the SUV was also embroidered with QAnon insignia. The men admitted to owning the vehicle and police also uncovered another firearm inside, the Post reported.

“The FBI works closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and stop any potential threats to public safety. It is vital that the FBI, our partners, and the public work together to protect our community. As always, we encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. We have no further information for release and would refer you to the Philadelphia Police Department for any additional guidance at this time,” the FBI said in a statement to the Post.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden took a narrow lead in Pennsylvania as more ballots from Philadelphia were counted on Friday morning, inching him closer to a victory over President Trump in the state.

The election has not yet been called for either candidate as more ballots continue to be counted.