Federal and local authorities were called into action early Sunday after a New Jersey man was found camped outside a prominent Washington, D.C., cathedral with a stockpile of homemade explosives and an alarming manifesto dripping with anti-religious and anti-government hostility, as Fox News reports.

The arrest took place just hours before the annual Red Mass, drawing panic after the suspect allegedly made numerous threats and claimed to be carrying over a hundred explosive devices targeting religious institutions and government figures.

Around 5 a.m., a Metropolitan Police Department officer approached a green tent set up in front of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, a revered site known for hosting high-profile religious ceremonies attended by Supreme Court justices and other national dignitaries.

Suspect Warned Officers of Explosives On Site

When asked to relocate, the man—identified as 41-year-old Louis D. Geri—offered no subtlety. He reportedly told the officer, “You might want to stay back and call the federales... I have explosives.” That was his opening line. Not your usual Sunday morning banter.

The area was already under tight security in anticipation of the Red Mass, a tradition marking the start of the Supreme Court term. When Geri made his claims about explosives, the MPD bomb squad was summoned immediately to assess the situation.

As bomb technicians, including Sgt. Wishnick, moved in, Geri allegedly escalated his threats: “Do you want me to throw one out? I’ll test one out in the street. I have a hundred plus of them.”

Threats Increasing as Police Investigate Further

That wasn’t all. As if auditioning for a list of federal charges, Geri continued, “There will be a hole in the street. If you just step back, I'll take out that tree.” According to police, he warned there would be deaths if officers didn’t step away.

Authorities say they observed him holding a butane lighter in one hand and a cap-shaped object in the other, further suggesting he wasn’t bluffing. The visual alone warranted decisive action. Geri was arrested after a brief standoff during which he allegedly urinated near a tree before being restrained and handcuffed. This is not quite the peaceful protest progressives admire.

Explosives, Writings, and Prior Warnings Alarm Authorities

The subsequent search revealed a disturbing collection inside the tent: vials of liquid, potential fireworks, and what authorities described as a large cache of improvised destructive devices. This wasn’t just a case of mental instability or homelessness. Geri handed police a nine-page document titled “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives,” a self-styled manifesto full of rage against the Catholic Church, Jewish people, the Supreme Court, and ICE.

And this wasn’t his first encounter at the cathedral. The church’s business manager provided evidence that Geri had been banned from the property on September 26—meaning there was clear forewarning, though evidently not enough to stop him until the eleventh hour.

Police Say Attack May Be Fueled by Hate

Charges followed swiftly. A Washington judge ordered Geri held without bond on allegations that include the manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction as a hate crime, making threats, and unlawful entry.

Geri’s background didn’t help either. He had a prior conviction for indecent exposure in Arizona in 2021, during which he served a year in prison.

Now, prosecutors argue he poses a serious threat to public safety. He is scheduled to return to court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing, where more details—and possibly more charges—are likely to emerge.

Cathedral’s Historic Significance Heightens Alarm

The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle holds deep historic and religious significance. It hosted President John F. Kennedy’s funeral and, more recently, that of Ethel Kennedy—attended by Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.

It has welcomed world leaders and popes, including St. Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis. That Geri chose this sacred ground reinforces the deliberate symbolism behind his actions. If this had been carried out, authorities believe the casualties could have been substantial. Fortunately, swift police response and bomb squad intervention neutralized the threat before disaster struck.