DENVER // The FBI is investigating reports that a man arrested with rifles, ammunition and drugs in his lorry may have made threats against Barack Obama, officials said. Two other men were also arrested. Barack Obama will be in Denver later this week to accept the Democratic nomination for president. Kathy Wright, from the FBI, confirmed the reports were being investigated but would not give further details. "It's premature to say that it was a valid threat or that these folks have the ability to carry it out," said a US government official. Tharin Gartrell, 28, was arrested during a routine traffic check on Sunday by police in the eastern Denver suburb of Aurora. Officers found two rifles, including one with a scope; a bulletproof vest; boxes of ammunition; walkie-talkies; and suspected narcotics in the truck, said detective Marcus Dudley. Police alerted federal authorities, who then arrested Nathan Johnson, 32, at a hotel in Denver. A third man, Shawn Robert Adolf, 33, was arrested at another hotel. Mr Adolf allegedly tried to escape by jumping from a sixth-floor window. He was taken to hospital and was being held on US$1 million bond (more than Dh3,673,000) on several outstanding warrants involving drug charges. Mr Johnson was also being held on drug charges. His bond was unknown. Mr Dudley did not say how the men were connected, but said more arrests were possible. One of the rifles was stolen and authorities had traced it to Kansas, Mr Dudley said. Aurora police alerted federal officials because of heightened security surrounding the Democratic convention. "Clearly we found there are federal implications - otherwise we would not have notified them," Mr Dudley said. "The weapons clearly would cause great concern." Troy Eid, a US attorney, said: "We're absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention, or the people of Colorado." "It could also turn out that these were nothing but a bunch of knuckleheads, meth-heads," the US government official said. A news conference on the matter is scheduled for this afternoon. * AP
