Man tries to blow up vehicle outside Pentagon

Matthew Richardson of Arkansas faces at least five years in prison if convicted

Matthew Richardson has been arrested on charges he tried to blow up a car at the Pentagon. He is due in federal court in Virginia on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 following his arrest on Monday (AP)

A man tried to kill himself by attempting to ignite a parked vehicle's gas tank in the Pentagon parking lot Monday, according to federal prosecutors.

Matthew Richardson, 19, of Arkansas was due to have his first appearance in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court on Tuesday afternoon on a charge of trying to set a vehicle on fire. If convicted, he faces at least five years in prison.

At about 10.45am on Monday morning, a Pentagon police officer came upon Mr Richardson in the Pentagon's northern parking lot, according to court records, where he was attempting to use a cigarette lighter to ignite a piece of fabric that was inserted into the gas tank of a grey Land Rover.

The officer reported that when he approached, Mr Richardson said he was going to “blow this vehicle up” and “himself.”

The Land Rover belongs to an active-duty service member who authorities say does not know Mr Richardson.

The officer tried to detain Mr Richardson, who fled on foot across Route 27 and into Arlington National Cemetery; he was arrested about an hour later on the grounds of the former home of Confederate General Robert E Lee.

He had on him court documents indicating that he had been arrested in Arlington over the weekend for assaulting a law enforcement officer, according to prosecutors. Court records indicate that he was set to appear in Arlington on Wednesday for that case.

The Washington Post