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Ferguson Plot Included Assassinations, Blowing Up Arch: Report

Two men arrested last week on suspicion of acquiring guns and explosives to use at protests in Ferguson, Missouri, planned to blow up St. Louis’ Gateway Arch and assassinate the county prosecutor.
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Two men arrested last week on suspicion of acquiring guns and explosives to use at protests in Ferguson, Missouri, planned to blow up St. Louis’ Gateway Arch and assassinate the county prosecutor, according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The plot also targeted Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson, according to the report. Jackson confirmed to NBC News he “was warned about a plot” by federal agents but was not given details. He said it was not the first threat against him, and he was told “the threat was under control."

The pair, identified in court documents as Brandon Orlando Baldwin and Olajuwon Davis, were arrested Friday after they made false statements while trying to buy two pistols at a sporting goods store in Hazelwood, Missouri. They were placed under surveillance after officials learned of the plan to buy guns and explosives to make pipe bombs, two federal officials told NBC News.

Another federal official said the two did not appear to constitute a very serious threat and that there was no indication they were part of a larger operation.

The arrest came three days before St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCullough revealed a grand jury would not indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

IN-DEPTH

— Ron Allen

NBC News' Pete Williams contributed to this report.