By Eniola Amadu
Authorities in the United States say an armed man pretending to be law enforcement was arrested at the venue of a memorial service planned for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The U.S. Secret Service said the suspect entered State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday and was acting suspiciously.
A spokesperson for the agency confirmed on Saturday that the man, whose name was not released, was armed and falsely claimed to be a law enforcement officer.
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“The individual is not a member of authorised law enforcement working the event and is currently in custody,” the spokesperson said.
“The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement are investigating the circumstances as to why he was at the location.”
The memorial service, scheduled for Sunday, is expected to draw a large crowd. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several other elected officials are billed to attend.
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist best known for his podcast The Charlie Kirk Show, was assassinated earlier this month while addressing students at a college campus in Utah. He is survived by his wife and two children.
His death is the latest in a troubling string of politically motivated attacks in the United States.
In recent months, former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home, while the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Mark Shapiro was set on fire.
Trump himself survived two assassination attempts during his campaign for the presidency last year.
The killing of Kirk has added to already heightened political tensions in the country. Analysts note that violent rhetoric has not eased in the wake of his death.
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Instead, social media platforms have been flooded with inflammatory reactions. Extremist accounts have openly celebrated the murder, while others are calling for broader violence, including civil war.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up security around high-profile political figures and events.
