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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 State Capitol. He was initially charged with making a terroristic threat and later taken into federal custody.
A Texas man was arrested early Wednesday after authorities say he planned a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Benny Caldera Jr., 40, was taken into custody at his home in Converse, Texas, by DPS SWAT officers around 3 a.m. He was charged with the felony offense of making a terroristic threat against a public servant and booked into the Bexar County Jail.
The DPS said it received credible information Tuesday about an individual planning a violent attack for Thursday at the Capitol in Austin. Special agents worked with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the threat, and Caldera was identified as the main suspect.
Caldera was initially released on a $75,000 bond later Wednesday, but DPS said he was subsequently taken into federal custody by the FBI to face additional federal charges. Officials have not released details about those charges.
Authorities have not outlined the specifics of the alleged planned attack or the nature of the credible information they received. DPS also has not publicly identified any additional suspects.
DPS leadership notified Texas state legislators about the threat and the arrest. The agency said the Capitol remained open for regular operating hours and that it would maintain an increased presence at the building to protect employees, state officials, and visitors. 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 assistance from the FBI's San Antonio team and local law enforcement. «Threaten Americans or our institutions and law enforcement will move FAST,» Patel said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also commended the agencies in a post on X, saying, «Texas DPS and the FBI stopped a planned attack on the Texas Capitol. Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol. Thank you, @TxDPS, for a job well done.»
The arrest comes amid heightened security concerns at government buildings across the country. In recent years, authorities have disrupted several alleged plots targeting state and federal facilities, including a foiled plan to bomb the New York State Capitol. Those cases have prompted law enforcement agencies to increase vigilance and coordination with local partners.
The Texas Capitol, located in downtown Austin, is a National Historic Landmark and the seat of the state legislature. It draws thousands of visitors each year and is protected by DPS troopers and other security personnel.
DPS said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide further details. Fox News Digital reached out to the agency for additional information.
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