A heavily armed man has been arrested on his way to the Los Angeles gay parade with ammunition, rifles and explosives in his car.

James Howell, 20, from Indiana was arrested on Saturday evening in Santa Monica, southern California.

Police said the incident is "unrelated" to the shooting of at least 50 people in Orlando on Saturday.

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The mayor of Los Angeles has said the gay pride march will continue as planned and they will hold a moment of silence for the victims in Florida.

Police told reporters that Mr Howell was found to have firearms, three assault rifles, a five-gallon bucket with chemicals, a vest with some type of security badge on it, a gas mask and ammunition.

Police decided not to cancel the annual parade, which went forward under tightened security (GETTY)

As reported by the LA Times, the Santa Monica police got a call from concerned neighbours of a suspected "prowler".

They intercepted a man who said he was waiting for a friend and then found the weapons in his car.

The mayor of West Hollywood, Lauren Meister, told reporters on Sunday morning that the city was on a heightened alert, and was working with the police and FBI.

Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, said that citizens will "not shrink back into the closet".