Washington police arrest Proud Boys leader ahead of protests

POLICE in Washington DC have arrested the leader of the Proud Boys, who is accused of burning a Black Lives Matter banner that was torn down from a historic black church in downtown Washington last month.

Henry ‘Enrique’ Tarrio, 36, was arrested by Metropolitan Police Department officers after he arrived in Washington ahead of protests planned by supporters of President Donald Trump to coincide with the congressional vote expected today to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.

Mr Tarrio was taken into custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest for destruction of property, police said. He was also facing weapons charges after officers found him with two high-capacity firearm magazines when he was arrested, a police spokesman said.

A pro-Trump rally in December ended in violence as hundreds of the president’s supporters, some wearing the signature black and yellow of the Proud Boys, a far-right antiimmigrant group, sought out confrontations with a collective of activists and counter-protesters who were attempting to bar them from Black Lives Matter Plaza, an area near the White House.

Mr Tarrio has told the Washington Post he had participated in the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner. He said he would plead guilty to destruction of property and pay the church the cost of the banner.