SANFORD – Police who acted on a tip that a group was preparing to hurt someone intercepted a carload of people and seized weapons including a .357-caliber Magnum, a shotgun and a stun gun.

Five people, including two juveniles, were arrested late Thursday and police were investigating whether the episode was a hate crime.

Three men and two juveniles face charges including conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder. The adults were expected to appear in court Friday, and the teens were being held at the Maine Youth Center.

The episode unfolded as the Sanford Police Department received a tip Thursday night that the group was heavily armed and heading to the Island Avenue area to commit an assault, said police Maj. Lori Ann D. Black.

Police found the group in a vehicle at 11:30 p.m., and the occupants were arrested without incident. In addition to guns, police recovered a baseball bat and brass knuckles. Some of the men were wearing bulletproof vests.

Black said Friday that the call to the Police Department prevented what could have been a deadly confrontation.

“I can’t say with certainty that it saved a life,” Black said, “but it certainly made a big difference.”

York County District Attorney Michael Cantara said the group allegedly used racial epitaphs to describe their intended victim and that it appeared the group’s actions were motivated by race.

One of the potential targets was black and all of the suspects were white, police said.

Charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and receiving stolen property were Christopher R. Mulldune, 18, of Sanford and Andrew P. Gerrish, 21, of Springvale, police said.

Gregory D. Morin, 18, of Bethel was charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said.