**FBI Raid in Washington State Uncovers Cache of Military Weapons and Nazi Paraphernalia**
On June 3, 2025, the FBI, in coordination with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a raid on a home in Lacey, Washington, near the state capital of Olympia. The operation, executed by an FBI SWAT team, was prompted by an investigation into a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry, as well as an assault reported at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on June 1, 2025. The raid uncovered a disturbing arsenal of military-grade weapons and Nazi paraphernalia, raising alarms about potential extremist activity.
According to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, authorities seized 35 firearms, including short-barrel rifles and an MG42 machine gun, a World War II-era weapon used by German forces. The cache also included grenade launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition, and ballistic helmets, with multiple rifles staged at windows throughout the residence, suggesting preparedness for a confrontation. Alongside the weaponry, agents found Nazi paraphernalia, including a red Nazi flag with a black swastika, and Sheriff Sanders noted that the suspects were “actively involved in Nazi white nationalist efforts.”
Two individuals were arrested and booked into Thurston County Jail on firearms-related charges, with initial court appearances scheduled for June 4, 2025, at the U.S. District Court in Tacoma. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle stated that a federal criminal complaint, expected to provide further details, would be unsealed on June 4. The FBI’s Seattle office, assisting in the operation, referred inquiries to the Sheriff’s Office and Army CID, indicating the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Posts on X reflect public shock and concern, with some users highlighting the discovery’s implications for domestic terrorism, while others speculate about the broader context of such findings. The raid underscores ongoing concerns about extremist groups stockpiling weapons, particularly in light of the suspects’ apparent ties to white nationalist ideologies. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to release more information about the suspects’ motives and the stolen military equipment’s origins.
This incident follows a pattern of heightened scrutiny on extremist activities, amplified by recent political tensions and the Trump administration’s push for government efficiency, which some critics argue distracts from addressing domestic threats.
