Arizona Man Accused of Plotting Mass Casualty Attack on Religious Site with 'Anarchist Cookbook'

An Arizona man accused of plotting a mass casualty attack on a religious site faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat, with prosecutors alleging he possessed a notorious bomb-making manual linked to the Oklahoma City bomber.

Matthew Bjornholt, 27, allegedly laid out a detailed plan for violence involving firearms, explosives, and an accomplice tasked with shooting survivors, according to prosecutors in Maricopa County. During his initial court appearance, prosecutor Stephen Garcia described Bjornholt as an imminent danger to the community and sought a $500,000 cash bond.

Garcia claimed Bjornholt referred to "The Anarchist Cookbook," a manual containing bomb-making instructions, as his "Bible." The alleged plot involved detonating bombs before an accomplice would begin shooting attendees.

Investigators seized three firearms and ammunition from Bjornholt's home. However, Bjornholt's defense attorney, Chad Schell, argued that the charges were based on hearsay from a former acquaintance whom Bjornholt had recently expelled from his home. Schell stated that federal authorities had already investigated the claims, executing a search warrant on Bjornholt's home on September 29. According to Schell, federal investigators found no evidence of terrorism or bomb-making materials and did not pursue federal charges.

Schell asserted that the FBI provided Bjornholt with access to his electronic devices and passwords, and that the subsequent search yielded no evidence of terrorism. He also noted that Bjornholt's civil rights had been restored following a previous drug charge, and that a prior murder charge had been dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Despite the defense's arguments, the judge found sufficient probable cause to advance the case. The judge set Bjornholt's bond at $100,000, though 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.