US Police uncovers plot to kill Obama, four arrested
26 Aug 2008, 1013 Hrs

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Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): US Police have arrested four people, one allegedly a white supremacist, in connection with a possible plot to kill Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday night during his acceptance speech in Denver.

One of the suspects reportedly told authorities they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a rifle sighted at 750 yards," according to Denver TV station CBS4.

The four - believed to be three men and one woman - were now being held on drugs or weapons charges.

According to the TV station, one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama and he responded in the affirmative."

The apparent plot began emerging on Sunday morning when police just outside of Denver arrested 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell. He was driving a rented pickup truck in an erratic manner, according to sources.

CBS4 said police found two high-powered, scoped rifles in the car along with camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies, a bulletproof vest, a spotting scope, licences in the names of other people and methamphetamine. One of the rifles is listed as stolen from Kansas.

Subsequently, authorities went to a local hotel to contact an associate of Gartrell's. But that man, who was wanted on numerous warrants, jumped out of a sixth floor hotel window.

Law enforcement sources say the man broke an ankle in the fall and was captured moments later.

Sources say he was wearing a ring with a swastika, and is thought to have ties to white supremacist organisations. (ANI)