A man was arrested after police discovered over 200 explosives near the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, D.C., during the annual Red Mass ceremony. The incident occurred on Sunday, a day when Supreme Court justices typically attend the event to mark the start of the new term.
41-year-old Louis Gehri was taken into custody after informing officers he possessed explosives and threatened to use them. Authorities located his tent, which contained numerous containers filled with chemicals for explosive devices, molotov cocktails, and modified bottle rockets. A manifesto expressing hostility toward the Catholic Church, Jews, Supreme Court justices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also found.
Gehri reportedly carried devices in his pocket and backpack, along with a tent set up near the cathedral. Court records revealed he had vials of nitromethane, a substance used in explosive materials, and described plans to use the chemicals as grenades with rubber bands for fuses. He told officers, “You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives,” before later claiming he could detonate a tree without harming anyone.
The suspect faced multiple charges, including unlawful possession of explosives, threats against law enforcement, assault on police officers, and manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. He had prior arrests, including a 2021 conviction for indecent exposure in Arizona, and was released from prison in 2023.
This year’s Red Mass saw no Supreme Court justices attend due to security concerns, a decision seen as prudent given the incident. Gehri remains in jail without bond as authorities investigate his actions.
