Matthew Smith, 37, told police he had been studying the factory and was planning to commit mass murder. He remains in custody

A mass shooting at a Kentucky factory was thwarted on Monday when police arrested a man who had a modified AR-15, several handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition in his pick-up truck.

Matthew Smith, 37, was arrested at the LB Manufacturing factory in Springfield on Monday at around 2pm.

Police were called there by employees who said he was acting suspiciously in his truck in the parking lot. It remains unclear if Smith worked at the factory or if he had targeted it at random.

When officers arrive and approached him, he pointed one of his handguns at one officer's chest.

The cop was able to grab it from him and put him on the ground without any shots being fired.

As they handcuffed him, Smith reached for another gun in his waistband.

Once he was detained, they searched his car and found an AR-15 which had been modified to be fully automatic.

In total, there were three rifles, 19 loaded magazines, four handguns and a sniper's training manual in the car.

When questioned, Smith told police that he had bee planning a mass shooting and had been studying the building.

These are all the weapons that were found inside the 37-year-old's car including an AR-15, two other rifles, four handguns and multiple loaded magazines. The AR-15 had been illegally modified and he had a scope

Among the items in the man's car was a sniper's training manual. No details of his background - including what he did for work - have been released

'He made statements that indicated he had been analyzing the building layout to include entrances/exits, approaches, and even the air vents on the roof,' a statement on the police Facebook page said.

They did not reveal if he gave a motive for the shooting.

Smith was charged with Attempted Murder on a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespassing, and Wanton Endangerment.

The FBI and the Federal Bureau for Alchohol, Tobacco and Firearms have both launched invesigations into the incident.

It is unclear if Smith owned the guns legally. He remains in custody.

The Springfield Police Department praised the employees who raised the alarm, saying: 'They're heroes among us.

'This is proof that the “see something, say something movement” pays off because of the proactive approach that LB Mfg. officials took in immediately notifying our Police Department.

'It is commendable that our officers were quickly able to apprehend this suspect professionally to divert what could have been a tragedy.'