- An engineer deliberately ran a train off the tracks near the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship providing relief to Los Angeles-area hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the US Justice Department.
- The train operator allegedly confessed and said that he wanted to "wake people up," believing that the Mercy "had an alternate purpose related to COVID-19 or a government takeover."
- The train came to a stop about 250 yards away from the Mercy, which was not damaged or affected.
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An engineer directed a train at full speed off the end of the track in California, about 250 yards away from the US Naval Ship Mercy, a floating hospital that is providing care during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ship is docked in San Pedro, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles.
Eduardo Moreno, 44, was charged on Wednesday with one count of train wrecking, the US Justice Department said in a press release.
A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer recounted watching the train barrel at full speed "into a concrete barrier at the end of the track, smash into a steel barrier, smash into a chain-link fence, slide through a parking lot, slide across another lot filled with gravel, and smash into a second chain-link fence," according to a statement cited by the Justice Department.
The USNS Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles last week. Like the USNS Comfort in New York, it is providing relief to area hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
Moreno allegedly confessed as soon as he was arrested by the CHP officer, and later told Los Angeles Port Police that he "did it."
According to the Justice Department, Moreno deliberately crashed the train near the USNS Mercy because he believed the ship "had an alternate purpose related to COVID-19 or a government takeover."
"People could see for themselves," he allegedly said, adding that he wanted to "wake people up."
"You only get this chance once," Moreno allegedly told the officer who first arrested him. "The whole world is watching. I had to. People don't know what's going on here. Now they will."
The Mercy was not damaged or affected by the crash, and no one was injured. Moreno said he acted alone and had not planned the attack in advance.
Moreno worked for Pacific Harbor Line, a train company that carries cargo from the port and connects to major railroad lines, according to a spokesperson for the Port of Los Angeles cited by CBS News,
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Los Angeles Port Police are leading the investigation.
Moreno faces up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
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