Police officers in California have arrested a man with weapons at a Donald Trump rally, it has emerged.

The 49-year-old man was found in possession of a shotgun, a loaded pistol and a high-capacity magazine on Saturday afternoon local time.

Officers stopped him at a checkpoint near the Coachella event in a black SUV.

Local newspaper The Press-Enterprise Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco quoted, “We probably stopped another murder attempt.”

The Secret Service says it is investigating the incident.

VIPs and the media were sent through police checkpoints where drivers were asked to open the trunks and hoods of their vehicles, which were then searched by a K-9 officer.

Other ticket holders were sent to a location about three miles away from the meeting. From there they were bussed to the site.

Sheriff Bianco said his deputies became suspicious when the man presented fake VIP and press passes at a checkpoint, according to The Press-Enterprise.

The Secret Service said in a statement: “We were contacted when it happened and Secret Service agents conducted a productive interview with the Intelligence Community.

“It had no impact on the event and we are investigating the circumstances and the backgrounds of the individuals.”

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Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “On Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 4:59 p.m., deputies assigned to former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley contacted the driver of a black SUV at an intersection checkpoint from Avenue 52. and Celebrationdrive.

“(The man) was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high capacity magazine.

“This incident had no impact on the safety of former President Trump or event attendees.”

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The county sheriff’s office will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. local time.

The man was released on $5,000 (£3,800) bail on the same day and will appear in court on January 2 next year, according to online records.

He was charged with possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high capacity magazine, according to the sheriff’s office.

Donald Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest.

The Republican presidential candidate was shot in an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania in July, with a bullet grazing his ear.

Last month, another man was charged with attempted murder of the former president after Secret Service agents found him with a rifle stashed near Trump’s golf course in Palm Beach. He pleaded not guilty.

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