Arizona Man Accused of Plotting Attack Using 'Anarchist Cookbook'

An Arizona man is accused of plotting a mass casualty attack on a religious site, with prosecutors stating he possessed a bomb-making manual linked to the Oklahoma City bombing. Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony charge of making a terrorist threat.

According to Maricopa County prosecutors, Bjornholt outlined detailed plans that included detonating bombs before an accomplice would shoot survivors. Prosecutors also allege that Bjornholt kept a copy of "The Anarchist Cookbook," a manual containing bomb-making instructions, referring to it as his "Bible."

Investigators seized three guns and ammunition from Bjornholt's residence. Prosecutors sought a $500,000 cash bond, citing Bjornholt as an imminent danger to the community.

Bjornholt's defense attorney, Chad Schell, argued that the charges were based on hearsay from a former acquaintance whom Bjornholt had recently evicted. Schell stated that the FBI had previously executed a search warrant on Bjornholt's home on September 29, seizing electronic devices and passwords. 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.

"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 told the court. "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."

Schell also contended that the seized firearms were lawfully possessed and that Bjornholt's civil rights had been restored after completing a prior sentence on a drug charge, stemming from a dismissed murder case. The ammunition, Schell added, consisted of standard magazine loads.

Despite the defense's arguments, the judge found probable cause to move the case forward and set Bjornholt's bond at $100,000. It remains unclear if specific religious sites were targeted or if an accomplice was identified.

Bjornholt is scheduled for a status conference on October 22 and a preliminary hearing on October 26.