January 1, Arizona Man Accused of Plotting Attack on House of Worship With Bomb-Making Book

Wyatt’s Take

• Prosecutors say an Arizona man kept a bomb-making manual called his ‘Bible’ and drew up plans to strike a religious site.
• The defense argues the case rests on hearsay from a homeless tipster and that the FBI already cleared the suspect after a full search.
• A judge cut the bond request nearly in half, showing skepticism toward the state’s evidence so far.

An Arizona man faces a felony terror-threat charge after prosecutors claim he planned a mass-casualty strike on a house of worship and kept a copy of the bomb-making manual linked to the Oklahoma City bomber.

Matthew Bjornholt, 27, is accused of outlining a chilling scheme that involved explosives followed by an accomplice who would gun down survivors, according to Maricopa County prosecutors.

During Friday’s hearing, prosecutor Stephen Garcia asked the court to set a $500,000 cash bond, warning that Bjornholt posed an imminent threat to the community.

“The Anarchist Cookbook” was found in Bjornholt’s possession, and he allegedly referred to it as his “Bible,” Garcia told the court.

Investigators seized three firearms and ammunition from the suspect’s home after the tip came in.

Defense attorney Chad Schell pushed back hard, insisting the entire case rests on unverified statements from a disgruntled homeless man Bjornholt had briefly allowed to stay on his couch.

“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 said.

Schell noted the FBI had already searched the home on September 29, examined Bjornholt’s devices with his full cooperation, and declined to bring federal charges.

“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.

The judge found probable cause to move the case forward but set bond at $100,000, citing the heavy reliance on hearsay evidence.

Bjornholt is due back in court later this month.

Wyatt Matters

Americans want their neighborhoods kept safe from real threats, not tied up in court by shaky tips and old grudges.