Police seize ‘mostly assembled rifle’ at City Creek Mall

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department said officers seized a “mostly assembled rifle” at City Creek Mall on Saturday. It said they didn’t believe there was any threat to the public.

A press release from the department said officers received word at 5:33 p.m. that there was a disturbance at a coffee shop at 80 S. Main Street, in which an employee “reported seeing what appeared to be components of a firearm in a backpack in possession of the 33-year-old man.”

The statement said police immediately responded and searched the area for the man. Salt Lake City Police officers and City Creek safety officials found and detained him.

“During their investigation, officers recovered a mostly assembled rifle inside the man’s backpack,” the statement said. “At this point, there is no evidence to suggest the man ever fully assembled the firearm.”

Police said the man is a tourist from Australia, and officials were trying to figure out how he was in possession of a firearm.

The statement said no charges had been filed against the man, and officials didn’t release his name. Police said they do not believe there is any threat to the public.

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