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An Arizona man who allegedly plotted a mass casualty attack on a Jewish or Muslim house of worship is being accused by prosecutors of possessing an infamous bomb-making manual linked to the Oklahoma City bomber.
Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat in connection with his alleged plot to attack a religious site.
Prosecutors in Maricopa County said Bjornholt laid out a chilling blueprint for violence that involved guns, explosives and an accomplice tasked with gunning down survivors.
During an initial court appearance on Friday, prosecutor Stephen Garcia sought a $500,000 cash bond, calling Bjornholt an imminent danger to the community, according to FOX 10.
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Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat in connection with his alleged plot to attack a religious site. (Maricopa County Jail)
Bjornholt allegedly outlined detailed plans to attack a religious site, according to Garcia, who also claimed the suspect kept a copy of “The Anarchist Cookbook,” a manual containing bomb-making instructions that has been linked to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
Garcia alleged that Bjornholt referred to the book as his “Bible.”
The alleged plot included plans to detonate bombs before an accomplice of Bjornholt’s would begin “picking off people” with firearms, according to prosecutors.
Investigators later seized three guns and ammunition from Bjornholt’s home.
Bjornholt’s defense attorney, Chad Schell, pushed back against the allegations, claiming that the charges are based solely on unverified hearsay from a disgruntled former acquaintance, according to FOX 10.
Schell told the court that the tip came from a “homeless alcoholic” whom Bjornholt had briefly let crash on his couch before kicking him out late last month.
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Prosecutors in Maricopa County said Bjornholt laid out a chilling blueprint for violence that involved guns, explosives and an accomplice tasked with gunning down survivors. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
Schell said federal authorities had already investigated the claims weeks ago. Schell said the FBI executed a search warrant at Bjornholt’s home on Sept. 29 and that Bjornholt voluntarily provided investigators with his electronic devices and passwords.
According to Schell, federal investigators found no evidence of terrorism or bomb-making materials and did not pursue federal charges before county authorities took over the case a couple of weeks later.
“There is no evidence he’s a danger to the community. What is the evidence that he’s a danger to the community? Some hearsay statements from some dude — that my client kicked out of his house two days before September 29,” Schell told the court.
“Again, the FBI served a search warrant, got all of his electronic devices. He gave them access, gave him his passwords to those devices. They went through all of those electronic devices. They didn’t see anything about terrorism. And FBI cut him loose,” he continued.
Schell also argued that the three seized guns were lawfully possessed, adding that Bjornholt’s civil rights were restored after completing a previous sentence on a drug charge stemming from a closed first-degree murder case. According to Schell, the murder charge against Bjornholt was dropped because of a lack of evidence.
The ammunition found inside the home, Schell said, was no more than standard magazine loads.
“The Anarchist Cookbook,” a manual containing bomb-making instructions that has been linked to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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Digital has reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix for comment.
Despite prosecutors citing Bjornholt’s criminal history in arguing for a larger bond, the judge said the state’s preliminary evidence relied heavily on hearsay and set Bjornholt’s bond at $100,000, according to FOX 10.
The judge nevertheless found enough probable cause to move the case forward.
It remains unclear whether specific houses of worship were targeted in the alleged plot or whether there was a specific accomplice.
Bjornholt is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22 for a status conference and then later for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 26.
