A suspect was arrested for threatening Texas legislators, only a few hours after a shooter killed a Minnesota legislator and injured another in the weekend.
The Capitool in Texas in Austin was closed by the police on Saturday after he had received a credible threat to legislators who are planning to attend a protest of “no kings” later in the day, the police said.
“From an abundance of caution, the Capitol and the Capitol Grounds were evacuated,” said the Texas Department of Public Safety in a statement.
“DPS will collaborate with all local, provincial and federal law enforcement partners to guarantee the safety of our citizens and state property, and to protect people who exercise their constitutional rights on collecting and freedom of expression,” said Texas police.
Later in the day, a trooper in Texas arrested a suspect in connection With the threat during a traffic stop near La Grange, a city per hour driving southwest of Austin, according to the police.
The police did not identify the suspect.
“There is currently no extra active threat,” DPS said in a press release.
According to the website, the “No Kings” protest in the Texas Capitol would start at 5 p.m. at 5 p.m.
The threat from Texas came only a few hours after a masked shooter who occurred as a police officer reportedly killed a Minnesota legislator and her husband and another state representative and his wife injured in some civil servants described as a ‘targeted attack’. The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested on Sunday evening after an extensive manhunt.
Texas politicians from both sides of the political spectrum weighed the threat and the broader concern about violence aimed at politicians.
“Unfortunately, death threats are part of serving public life today. Wetgevers don’t often talk about it, but the state gets dozens of threats every month,” ” Lt. Gov. Then Patrick said in a message about X.
Patrick said that most of people are “going too far” in calling or e -mails, and they quickly show when they are confronted. But he said that all threats should be taken ‘seriously’.
“There is a difference between complaints of free speech, which we welcome, and making death threats. The latter can be a crime,” he wrote. “What happened today in Minnesota was an absolute criminal act and a tragic loss of life.”
In a statement, rep. Rhetta Bowers (D-Garland) condemned the violence against legislators in Minnesota And warned of the prospect of even more.
“I have seen the growing threats that are aimed at chosen officials in our country,” said Bowers. “Today’s events are a tragic memory that these threats are not abstract – they are real, they escalate and they hit the heart of our democracy.”
“Public service,” she added, “should never be at the expense of our safety or our lives.”
Republican government Greg Abbott published a statement that reflects the Democrat.
“The governor and the first lady completely condemn the horrible acts of violence in Minnesota and pray for the Hortman and Hoffman families during this difficult time,” it was said. “State officials must be able to free their duty from political intimidation.”
