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6d ago

Judge Orders Detention for Man Accused of Stashing 200 Explosive Devices at D.C. Cathedral

Prosecutors argued for detention based on preliminary tests indicating operable nitromethane devices alongside on‑scene threats.

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WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 22: The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle holds Ash Wednesday services on February 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Observed by Catholic and many Protestant Christians around the world, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days of fasting and repentance observances ending with the celebration of Easter. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 6: Worshipers leave after celebrating the 72nd Annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., October 6, 2024. The mass, which is sponsored by the John Carroll Society, is held annually on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the beginning of the new term of the Supreme Court. The mass attempts to invoke God's blessings on officials and politicians primarily responsible for the administration of justice. Supreme Court Justices John G. Roberts, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Amy Barrett attended the mass. (Astrid Riecken For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
U.S. Capitol Police officers with a K9 detector dog, patrols outside of Supreme Court, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Overview

  • At a D.C. Superior Court hearing Thursday, Magistrate Judge Heide Herrmann ordered Louis Geri, 41, jailed until trial.
  • Police say they found more than 200 homemade devices in a tent on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral hours before the annual Red Mass.
  • Affidavits describe vials containing nitromethane and modified bottle rockets intended for remote detonation, with the cache assessed as fully functional.
  • A nine-page notebook handed to officers outlined animosity toward the Catholic Church, Supreme Court members, Jewish people and ICE, according to court records.
  • FBI, ATF and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are testing the seized materials; charges include destructive-device offenses and a hate‑crime WMD count, with Geri’s next court date set for later this month.