Police say Pennsylvania arson suspect would have attacked governor

A man arrested for allegedly setting a dangerous fire at the Pennsylvania governor's mansion would have attacked Governor Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he had found him inside, police said.

Cody Balmer, 38, was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, aggravated assault and burglary on Monday evening. A judge denied bail.

Authorities say Mr Balmer used Molotov cocktails to start the blaze overnight on Saturday.

Shapiro, his wife, his four children, and guests and staff members were able to escape unscathed, but the official residence in the state capital of Harrisburg was severely damaged.

According to a police report, Mr Balmer, a Harrisburg resident, walked for about an hour from his home, scaled a perimeter fence, used a hammer to break two windows and set the building alight at around 01:30 local time Sunday.

Pennsylvania State Police said Mr Balmer had admitted to them that he removed petrol from a lawn mower and poured it into beer bottles to make the Molotov cocktails he allegedly used in the attack.

An arrest affidavit said Mr Balmer had admitted to "harbouring hatred" towards Shapiro.

The suspect initially evaded state troopers but turned himself in to authorities several hours later. Police said they searched Mr Balmer's home, and found clothes and a hammer matching the items that the attacker was seen wearing and holding on surveillance video captured at the governor's residence.

An ex-girlfriend of Mr Balmer contacted police and said that he was responsible for setting the fire, according to the police report.

On Monday, Pennsylvania officials said Mr Balmer was transported to a local hospital due to a medical event unconnected with the incident or his arrest.

In an interview with CBS, the BBC's US news partner, his mother, Christie Balmer, said her son had struggled with mental illness and recently stopped taking psychiatric medication.

"So he was mentally ill, went off his meds, and this is what happened," she said.

A Facebook account that matches the name, location and other personal details of the suspect included a number of posts both criticising former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and mocking supporters of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Mr Balmer served in the US Army Reserve from 2004-12, according to a US Army spokesperson.

At a news conference on Sunday, Shapiro said he was not "fearful" but said: "I'm obviously emotional, worried about my family. I want my kids to be OK."

"This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society," the governor added.

"And I don't give a damn if it's coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop."

Shapiro, who is Jewish, said his family had celebrated the first night of Passover just hours before the arson attack.

The governor, a Democrat, was among the top contenders to be Kamala Harris's running mate during the 2024 election but was ultimately passed over in favour of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He has frequently been mentioned as a possible future presidential candidate.

Shapiro said FBI Director Kash Patel had promised "all the resources of the federal government" in investigating the attack.

In an online post, Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the swift work of police and wrote: "I am deeply relieved that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe."

The governor's residence in Harrisburg is a 29,000 sq ft (2,700 sq m) Georgian-style home built in 1968.

Shapiro has served as Pennsylvania's governor since 2023, after working as the state's attorney general.