An Antifa sympathizer who is believed to be dangerous has pleaded guilty to detonating a nail-filled explosive device.
A 26-year-old man named Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert confessed to detonating a device containing nails and screws outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office.
On Friday, a man with suspected Antifa sympathies pleaded guilty to detonating an explosive device filled with nails outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office earlier this year, according to the Department of Justice.
In federal court, Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty to setting off an explosive device outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office in downtown Montgomery during the early morning hours of Feb. 24. No injuries were reported.
During the plea hearing, Calvert confessed to constructing the device himself and using nails and screws as shrapnel, along with accelerants to cause an explosion. The DOJ stated that Calvert intentionally filled the device with nails to increase its destructive potential.
On April 10, law enforcement arrested Calvert after he placed an explosive device near the Attorney General's Office, lit its fuse, and fled the scene.
The DOJ stated that Calvert had previously posted Antifa content on social media, believed in using violence against the government, and placed Antifa stickers near the crime scene. However, Calvert claims that he has no affiliation with Antifa, a far-left militant movement that seeks to combat ideas they find offensive through direct action and physical confrontation.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the ATF, and Calvert may face between five and 20 years in prison.
"The Justice Department will not tolerate attacks on public servants and will use all available resources to prevent such conduct and hold perpetrators accountable, as stated by Attorney General Merrick Garland. This defendant constructed a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community."
The man was deemed "dangerous" due to his inability to control his violent and aggressive impulses, as stated in court documents.
Court documents allege that some stickers posted by Calvert in the area featured an Antifa logo on a rainbow flag background, with the words "ANTI- FASCISM IS COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE."
According to court documents, others called for "ABOLISH PRIVATE PROPERTY" and "EAT THE RICH," with the "A" inside the word "EAT" in the shape of the anarchy symbol.
Others reportedly read, "DEATH TO FASCISM," "ARM THE HOMELESS," "F--K WORK LET'S RIOT!" and "NEVER WORK."
Calvert was accused by ATF Director Steven Dettelbach of committing an attack on the American justice system.
Dettelbach stated that violent, targeted attacks like this aim to harm civil servants and public officials through physical harm or fear and intimidation, who serve our communities and country.
"The ATF is dedicated to prosecuting individuals who target American institutions. I applaud the efforts of the ATF and all our federal and local collaborators in apprehending this suspect."
Planet Chronicle’ Hannah Grossman contributed to this report.
us
You might also like
- Governor says Kentucky judge was shot and killed in his chambers.
- On a hot day, Texas law enforcement discovered 16 undocumented individuals concealed within a trailer's "false wall," prompting the arrest of the driver.
- The Kentucky couple who discovered the remains of the alleged interstate shooter claims they became 'bounty hunters'.
- A hiker in Yellowstone was airlifted to the hospital with severe burns after straying from the designated trail near Old Faithful.
- Two Massachusetts corrections officers were stabbed by inmates, prompting the union to claim that they are effectively running the asylum.