E-Paper
Two held for threatening to kill Barack Obama
US authorities have arrested two white supremacists for threatening to kill Democrat Barack Obama during a "killing spree" of African-Americans, court records showed.
US authorities have arrested two white supremacists for threatening to kill Democrat Barack Obama during a "killing spree" of African-Americans, court records showed.
The two men planned to kill some 88 people and decapitate 14 African-Americans, before in a final act assassinating Obama, bidding to be the country's first black president, the documents revealed.
Daniel Cowart and Paul Schlesselman were arrested Wednesday in Tennessee for possession of firearms and threats against a candidate running for president, the documents from the Memphis court showed.
The men discussed a "killing spree to include targeting a predominantly African-American school ... They further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill/assassinate presidential candidate Barack Obama," Brian Weaks, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the court.
Cowart, from Bells, Tennessee, and Schlesselman, from Arkansas, met via the Internet a month ago and have "very strong beliefs and views regarding 'White Power' and 'Skinhead' views," Weaks said in his statement to the court.
Cowart had bought one rifle and stockpiled two handguns, both stolen from his grandfather. They planned to steal another high-powered rifle from a gun store in Jackson, Tennessee, as well as a series of robberies to finance their bloody actions.
"Schlesselman stated that they planned to drive their vehicles as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows," Weaks said.
