Texas Man Arrested After Alleged Plot to Attack State Capitol
Benny Caldera Jr., 40, was arrested at his Converse, Texas, home after authorities received credible information about a planned violent attack on the Texas Capitol, according to the Department of Public Safety.
A Texas man was arrested early Wednesday after authorities say he planned a violent attack on the Texas Capitol, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Benny Caldera Jr., 40, was taken into custody at his home in Converse, Texas, around 3 a.m. by DPS SWAT officers, the agency said. He was charged with making a terroristic threat against a public servant, a felony, and was booked into the Bexar County Jail. He was later released on $75,000 bond.
The arrest followed a tip that DPS received Tuesday about an individual planning a violent attack for Thursday in Austin, the agency said in a statement. DPS described the information as credible and said its special agents worked alongside the FBI and local law enforcement to investigate the threat.
DPS identified Caldera as the main suspect. The agency said it notified Texas state legislators about the threat and the arrest. The Capitol remained open for regular operating hours, and DPS said it would maintain an increased presence at the building to protect employees, state officials, and visitors.
Officials did not outline the specifics of the alleged planned attack or the nature of the credible information they received. DPS has not publicly identified any additional suspects, and the incident remains under investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the swift response in a post on X, writing that within hours of the tip, DPS had the main suspect in custody with FBI and local law enforcement assisting. «Threaten Americans or our institutions and law enforcement will move FAST,» Patel said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also commented on the arrest, saying in a post on X that DPS and the FBI stopped a planned attack on the Texas Capitol. «Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol,» Abbott wrote, thanking DPS for its work.
The arrest comes as law enforcement agencies across the country have heightened vigilance around potential threats to government buildings and public officials. The Texas Capitol, located in Austin, is a high-profile symbol of state government and hosts legislative sessions, public tours, and official ceremonies.
DPS said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide further details about the alleged plot or whether any other individuals were being sought. The agency did not immediately respond to additional questions.
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