They may be charged with plotting to blow up a major bridge in Cleveland, but five Ohio men under arrest Tuesday morning had their eyes on Chicago later this month, according to federal investigators.
The five were initially planning to use high-powered C-4 explosives to take down the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge which crosses from Brecksville, Ohio, to Sagamore Hills, Ohio, over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, according to a federal complaint.
Douglas L. Wright, 26, Brandon L. Baxter, 20, and Anthony Hayne, 35, were arrested by members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on Monday night on charges of conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce. Also arrested were Connor C. Stevens, 20, and Joshua S. Stafford, 23.
The men are self-professed anarchists who have formed a small group intent on violent attacks that evolved in a series of plots hatched the past several months, say FBI agents in Cleveland. The bridge attack was timed to coincide with May Day, said federal officers.
FBI agent said that the suspects, who describe themselves as anarchists, planned to blow up a major bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Tuesday.
They were going to then come to Chicago, prepared with body armor, helmets and gas masks - because quote "things were going to get crazy."
They said that anarchists would leave Cleveland a quote "pile of rubble and ashes" then do more damage in Chicago.
FBI agents in Chicago told FOX Chicago News that the men posed no credible threat to our city.
But it wasn't for lack of trying.
“The individuals explored the illegal purchase of explosives as well as the concept of using pre-cursor chemicals and internet knowledge to make homemade explosives,” FBI special agent in charge Stephen D. Anthony said. “They ultimately negotiated with FBI undercover agents and purchased two inert, I say inert, improvised explosive devices, IEDs, which were presented as C-4 based remote activated IED’s.”
The anarchists also wanted to knock over bank signs on top of Cleveland’s skyscrapers.
The five suspects were arrested Monday night. They'll be in court Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment