A terrifying plot to unleash mass carnage in the nation’s capital was foiled this week after Washington, D.C., police say they discovered a cache of at least 200 improvised explosive devices in a tent outside a prominent cathedral. Authorities arrested 41-year-old Louis Geri, a New Jersey resident, who investigators say had filled the shelter with homemade “grenades” and threatened to detonate them during a major religious gathering.
A man arrested with 200 explosives outside of a church event for Supreme Court justices on Sunday had a manifesto showing that his anger was directed at the Supreme Court, ICE, Catholics, and Jews, @realdailywire found. Last year, 3 conservative justices were at the special Mass. pic.twitter.com/x29gBfDYX9
— Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) October 7, 2025
The incident unfolded as congregants and visitors began assembling for the annual Red Mass, a traditional service attended by members of the legal community at the start of the Supreme Court’s term. Officers responding to reports of a suspicious tent inspected the site and found what the Metropolitan Police described as a large number of improvised devices. A bomb squad was called and the scene was secured.
REPORT: A man with 200 explosives was arrested outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. before the annual Red Mass, and his manifesto “revealed his significant animosity towards the Catholic Church, members of the Jewish faith, members of SCOTUS, and… pic.twitter.com/rUkokdnVk5
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) October 8, 2025
Court filings and police reports obtained by local media say Geri was found inside the tent and resisted initial attempts at communication. He allegedly told officers, “You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives.” Negotiators attempted to persuade him to exit peacefully, while a perimeter kept parishioners and bystanders far from potential danger.
ATTACK AVOIDED AT CATHEDRAL? DC police say they found 200 devices and a smell of acetone emitting from some of the vials, in a tent a New Jersey man allegedly set up on the steps of St. Matthew's Cathedral just hours before the annual Red Mass. Louis Geri, 41, has been arrested.… pic.twitter.com/3mmzrtC0YA
— Scott Thuman (@ScottThuman) October 7, 2025
According to prosecutors, Geri left behind a notebook filled with vitriolic entries aimed at Supreme Court justices, the Catholic Church, Jewish people, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The writings reportedly expressed particular hatred for the high court and appeared to target the Red Mass itself as an occasion to strike. A document described in filings, titled “Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives,” was part manifesto, part rambling threat.
At one point, an officer peered into the tent and observed Geri holding a lighter near one of the devices, officials say. He allegedly taunted negotiators, offering to “test one out on the streets” and warning that “several of your people are gonna die from one of these.” Officers ultimately detained him after he briefly exited the tent. No deaths or mass injuries were reported, though the dramatic scene left nearby worshippers shaken.
The suspected devices were removed and transferred to the FBI for forensic analysis. Federal and local law enforcement are coordinating the investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the full list of charges, but court filings and police statements indicate possible counts related to possession of explosive devices, threats, and attempted mass murder.
Religious leaders and local officials praised the swift response by police and the bomb squad and urged calm as investigators work to determine motive and whether anyone else was involved. The episode underscores the persistent threat posed by lone actors willing to weaponize homemade explosives and target public gatherings. Law enforcement officials say the public should remain vigilant and report suspicious activity immediately.
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