Armed man arrested outside Virginia church had threatened attack, police say

A Virginia man was arrested over the weekend after police said he was making threats and was close to carrying out a "potential threat of violence."

Police coordinating from three counties in northern Virginia arrested 35-year-old Rui Jiang on Sunday in connection with a threat to a church in Haymarket, Virginia, a small town about 37 miles west of Washington, D.C. According to police, Jiang was reported after he had been posting "vague threats of violence" on Instagram, including images of the church.

Police eventually tracked Jiang's car to the church's parking lot. Around the same time, police said church staff were monitoring a "suspicious person" that was determined to be Jiang, who had previously been inside the church.

A Prince William County off duty officer and the church staff were able to detain Jiang. Church services were going on at the time, and no injuries were reported.

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According to police, Jiang had a loaded handgun and additional magazine, a folding knife and a folding "credit card" style knife. He had a concealed weapons permit, and the firearm was not reported stolen.

Jiang was arrested and charged with treats of bodily harm and carrying dangerous weapons to a place of religious worship. His court date is pending, and he is being held without bond.

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