Police in Switzerland arrested a man outside the country’s parliament and discovered traces of explosives on him, leading to the closure of the capital for several hours. The unnamed 27-year-old from the canton of Valais was wearing a bulletproof vest and a gun holster when he was stopped by police due to his suspicious behavior. A rapid test revealed the presence of explosives, but no further details were given.
The suspect’s car, which was parked near the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square), was examined by a robot and a drone. As a precautionary measure, the Bundesplatz and surrounding streets were blocked off and the nearby buildings, including the parliament building, were evacuated. However, the car was eventually found to be harmless. The emergency measures were lifted at around 7:00 p.m. after five hours.
The man is currently in custody and undergoing medical examinations to assess his physical and mental state. The Swiss Office of the Attorney General and police from Bern, Valais, and the Swiss Federal Police have launched a criminal investigation. Switzerland has seen few cases of extremist violence, but the federal police have warned of the potential threat.