A Virginia man was arrested Wednesday on Capitol Hill after trying to set his car afire while President-elect Donald Trump was there, authorities said.

According to a Fox News report, the incident occurred while Mr. Trump was at Congress to pay his respects to the late President Jimmy Carter and to meet with Republican lawmakers on his agenda priorities when he takes office.

“Our officers stopped a man who could have been a danger to the Capitol Hill community,” U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. “This vigilance is critical during this time of heightened security.”

The burning happened just before 5:30 p.m. on First Street Northwest near the Grant Memorial, Fox reported.

The car had been spray-painted and the man, who was not immediately named, set aflame a bag he had just put atop the vehicle.

When officers reached the car, the fire had already burned itself out. They quickly arrested the man without reported incident.

By about 7 p.m., the car had been determined not to be a hazard, though, according to Fox, accelerants were discovered in the bag.

• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.