Arizona man charged in gun attacks on Democratic office

Arizona is considered one of the most contested US states, and it has the ability to swing the November 5 election in favor of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris or her Republican rival Donald Trump.

The shooting at the Democratic campaign office took place in the middle of the night, when no one was present, police said. The attacks began on September 16 and were carried out either with BB gun pellets or real bullets.

The office was closed after a third attack earlier this month. The local Democratic campaign expressed gratitude for the arrest, which reportedly followed a public denunciation.

During a search of Mr. Kelly’s home, along with the large weapons seizure, agents also found rifle scopes, body armor and silencers, said Maricopa County Assistant District Attorney, Neha Bhatia. This raised fears among authorities that he was planning a larger attack.

Among other offences, Mr Kelly is also accused of using razor blades to line up campaign signs in a nearby village and hanging those signs with suspicious white powder.

His lawyer told the court his client had no criminal record and was licensed to possess firearms.

Mr. Kelly “would likely fit the definition of a genius, not the menacing, cartoonish type of genius as described by the state,” the lawyer was quoted as saying by the New York Times.

The suspect’s bail was set at $500,000 (£385,000). He appeared in court on Wednesday and is expected to do so again next Tuesday.

The 2024 US elections have been partly characterized by violence. Trump survived two assassination attempts – the first when a gunman shot him at a rally in another swing state, Pennsylvania.