View larger image This composite image shows Paul Michael Schlesselman and Daniel Gregory Cowart, who allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree and also assassinate Barack Obama. (AP / Crockett County Sheriff Office)

View larger image Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is flanked by his security personnel as he arrives at an airport in Canton, Ohio, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2008. (AP / Jae C. Hong)

Men arrested in alleged Neo-Nazi plot to kill Obama

Updated Mon. Oct. 27 2008 5:56 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

In court documents unsealed Monday, officials with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives linked two men to the plot.

The men allegedly planned to kill 88 black people, 14 of them by decapitation, according to court documents. Earlier reports had mistakenly said the plot involved killing 102 people.

The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic to neo-Nazi groups, referring to "Heil Hitler" and a 14-word slogan often citied in racist propaganda.

Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for ATF, claimed that the two men planned to finish their killing spree by murdering Obama.

"They said that would be their last, final act -- that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama," he told The Associated Press. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."

Allegations against the two men -- Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of West Helena, Ark. -- have not been proven in court.

Officials with ATF said they seized weapons from the pair, including a rifle, three pistols and a sawed-off shotgun.

Cowart and Schlesselman are charged with possessing an unregistered firearm and threatening a candidate for president. They are also accused planning to steal more weapons for the plot.

Agents with ATF said it appears the two men were acting alone. In court documents, it's alleged Cowart and Schlesselman "planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows."

"Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the court complaint states. "Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."

With files from The Associated Press

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