An Iranian national was found carrying multiple weapons on the Flagler Memorial Bridge in West Palm Beach, Florida in the United States about four miles (6,44 km) from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on January 10. Masoud Yareilzoleh was detained by Palm Beach officers after they responded to a morning call claiming there is a suspicious man in Bradley Park, close to the bridge.
“The man, identified by his passport as Masoud Yareioeill Zoleh, also had a car parked at Palm Beach International Airport,” said Palm Beach police officer Michael Ogrodnick. Yareilzoleh was seen wearing camping gear when he was arrested for a concealed weapons violation, as he was found carrying two knives, a machete and a pickaxe, $22,000 in cash and an Iranian passport.
Trump properties targeted
President Trump was not present at his Mar-a-Lago residence, as he was delivering a televised speech at the White House to respond to the Iranian attacks on US bases at the time of the incident. Trump’s properties are said to be a hot target in avenging the killing of top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani.
The Palm Beach incident came four days after Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar cited an Iranian official’s insinuation that Iran may attack Trump properties. “Trump needs to immediately divest from his businesses and comply with the emoluments clause. Iran could threaten Trump hotels *worldwide* and he could provoke war over the loss of revenue from skittish guests. His business interests should not be driving military decisions,” Omar tweeted.
Previous security breaches
Trump and his family departed on Sunday, January 5 to Washington after spending the holidays in Palm Beach. An hour before Trump left Palm Beach International Airport for the White House, a Florida man – who had been dishonorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for sex offenses – was arrested after breaching Trump’s airport security by impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. Brandon Mark Magnan, 37, lied about his identity to get past two security checkpoints at Palm Beach International Airport on Sunday afternoon.
Two Chinese nationals had also breached the Mar-a-Lago club security in two separate incidents in 2019. In December 2019, Jing Lu was ordered to leave when she was caught attempting to enter the property through a service driveway, after she was trying to enter via the main gate. In November 2019, Yujing Zhang was charged and sentenced to eight months in prison for trespassing and lying to federal agents about her intentions at the resort.
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