ST DAVID’S (Pennsylvania), Oct 28: Two white supremacists have been arrested for threatening to kill Barack Obama in a chilling twist revealed by officials as the race for the White House headed for its final seven days.

Daniel Cowart, 20, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, were arrested last week in Tennessee for possession of firearms, threats against a candidate running for president and conspiring to rob a gun store, the Department of Justice said.

The men began “discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans,” Brian Weaks, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told a Memphis court on Monday.

“They further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill/assassinate presidential candidate Barack Obama,” he added, as the two men appeared before the federal court.

The case is likely to heighten fears for Democrat candidate Obama’s safety as he bids to defeat Republican opponent John McCain to become the first black US president in history in next Tuesday’s elections.—AFP