Arizona man accused of plotting attack on religious site

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 08:43 · Archive

An Arizona man faces a felony terrorist threat charge over an alleged plot to attack a Jewish or Muslim house of worship.

Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat over an alleged plot to attack a Jewish or Muslim house of worship in Arizona. Prosecutor Stephen Garcia sought a $500,000 cash bond at an initial court appearance on Friday, calling Bjornholt an imminent danger to the community.

Garcia alleged that Bjornholt kept a copy of 'The Anarchist Cookbook', a manual containing bomb-making instructions linked to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and referred to the book as his 'Bible'. According to prosecutors, Bjornholt laid out detailed plans involving guns, explosives and an accomplice tasked with detonating bombs before 'picking off people' with firearms. Investigators seized three guns and ammunition from his home.

Bjornholt's defence attorney, Chad Schell, disputed the allegations, claiming they are based solely on unverified hearsay from a disgruntled former acquaintance—a person Schell described as a 'homeless alcoholic' whom Bjornholt had briefly housed before evicting him late last month. Schell noted that federal authorities had already investigated the claims weeks earlier, executing a search warrant on 29 September, and that Bjornholt voluntarily provided investigators with his electronic devices and passwords.

How it is being reported

• Arizona man accused of plotting mass casualty attack on religious site with ‘cookbook’ tied to OKC bombingMaricopa County prosecutors allege the 27-year-old referred to 'The Anarchist Cookbook' as his 'Bible.'New York Post · 19 Oct, 08:20
• Arizona man accused of plotting mass casualty attack on religious site with 'cookbook' tied to OKC bombingProsecutors accused an Arizona man of keeping the Oklahoma City bombing-linked "Anarchist Cookbook" as his "Bible" while allegedly plotting a religious site attack.Fox News · 19 Oct, 03:45

In this story: Matthew Bjornholt · Stephen Garcia · Chad Schell · Timothy McVeigh · Arizona · Maricopa County · Oklahoma City

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem