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.
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who → plot → bomber
Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat in connection with his alleged plot to attack a religious site.
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Bjornholt → face → 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.
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that → say → 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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Garcia → seek → FOX
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.
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that → outline → McVeigh
Garcia alleged that Bjornholt referred to the book as his "Bible."
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Bjornholt → allege → 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.
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accomplice → allege → prosecutors
Investigators later seized three guns and ammunition from Bjornholt’s home.
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Investigators → seize → 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.
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charges → push → FOX
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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Bjornholt → tell → him
Schell said federal authorities had already investigated the claims weeks ago.
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authorities → say → claims
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.
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Bjornholt → say → devices
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.
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he → accord → community
Some hearsay statements from some dude — that my client kicked out of his house two days before September 29," Schell told the court.
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Schell → kick → court
"Again, the FBI served a search warrant, got all of his electronic devices.
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FBI → serve → devices
He gave them access, gave him his passwords to those devices.
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He → give → devices
They went through all of those electronic devices.
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They → go → devices
They didn't see anything about terrorism.
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They → see → terrorism
And FBI cut him loose," he continued.
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he → cut → him
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.
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rights → argue → case
According to Schell, the murder charge against Bjornholt was dropped because of a lack of evidence.
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charge → accord → evidence
The ammunition found inside the home, Schell said, was no more than standard magazine loads.
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Schell → find → loads
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and FBI Phoenix for comment.
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Digital → reach → 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.
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evidence → cite → FOX
The judge nevertheless found enough probable cause to move the case forward.
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judge → find → case
It remains unclear whether specific houses of worship were targeted in the alleged plot or whether there was a specific accomplice.
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houses → remain → plot
Bjornholt is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 22 for a status conference and then later for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 26.
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Bjornholt → schedule → Oct.
The Aporia
