California man arrested with guillotine in pickup truck near US Capitol building

US Capitol Police arrested a 35-year-old California man after finding a guillotine in the bed of his pickup truck parked near the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.Philan-Tam-Duy Le, of Julian, California, was arrested on a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon, police said. According to CNN, officers spotted his pickup truck shortly after 3 pm ET illegally parked along East Capitol Street, near the Supreme Court and the US Capitol.Police confiscated the guillotine and said Le had driven from California to Washington, DC. Investigators are looking into his background and the reason for his visit to the capital, CNN reported.Le’s brother, Kelvin Le, told the Los Angeles Times that the guillotine was intended as a “symbol of disapproval”. He said Le was unhappy with both Democrats and Republicans and disliked President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom.The arrest comes amid heightened concerns over threats against members of Congress and the US government.Capitol Police said they recorded nearly 15,000 concerning statements, behaviours and communications targeting lawmakers, their families, staff and the Capitol complex in 2025, a rise of more than 57% from the previous year.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.