On Wednesday, Texas law enforcement announced they had received reliable information regarding a planned violent attack at the state capitol in Austin. This development prompted the arrest of one suspect.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) informed Newsweek that the tipoff came on Tuesday night, which led to the arrest of Benny Caldera Jr., aged 40, at his residence in Converse early Wednesday morning.
The DPS reported that Caldera was charged with making a felony terroristic threat against a public servant. He is currently detained at the Bexar County Jail.
“DPS leadership notified Texas State Legislators of the threat and arrest earlier today, and the Texas Capitol remains open for regular operating hours,” read a statement from the department. “DPS will continue to exhibit increased vigilance at the Texas Capitol to safeguard employees, visitors, and state officials. As this remains an active investigation, no additional information is available.”
It remains unclear who was the intended target of the planned attack. The Texas DPS collaborated with the FBI and local partners in this case. The FBI has deferred comments to the DPS.
Governor Greg Abbott conveyed his stance on the matter via X on Wednesday evening, stating, “Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol. Thank you, [Texas DPS], for a job well done.”
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