A New Hampshire man, Tristan Anderson, 22, was arrested on charges of criminal threatening and threatening a government official after allegedly plotting to bomb the state's Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, with homemade devices, according to investigators with the Pembroke Police Department. Prosecutors say Anderson threatened to kill Ayotte in a message to his roommate on Snapchat, writing that he planned to target Ayotte 'with my weapon of mass destruction.'
The arrest warrant, as reported by the Concord Monitor, also details social-media posts in which Anderson made anti-Semitic remarks about the 'Israel Deep State' and other inflammatory comments, including a claim that his generation is full of w****s. The roommate told police that Anderson owned firearms and showed her fireworks, metal tubes, nuts and bolts that he intended to use to assemble pipe bombs. Investigators seized additional information as they pursued the case.
Anderson was arrested last month and remains in custody at Merrimack County Jail, held without bail, according to the arrest warrant. He faces charges of criminal threatening and threatening a government official, both felonies in New Hampshire. It was not immediately clear when he would appear in court or whether prosecutors would pursue additional counts as the investigation continued.
Officials say the alleged plot comes amid heightened focus on the safety of public figures after the reported assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk last week. Ayotte spoke publicly about fears for lawmakers' safety on Wednesday, telling reporters that lawmakers and law enforcement had been in contact to discuss increasing security and access at the State House. She said she was directing the New Hampshire Legislature to heighten security and access to the State House.
Chris Vetter, director of Safety Services at the State House, told the Concord Monitor he was not aware of any specific threats against lawmakers but had been in conversations about beefing up security. 'We’re aware of what’s going on nationally,' Vetter said. 'We’re going to remain vigilant.'
The case underscores the challenges prosecutors face in addressing threats against public officials and the role social media can play in escalating potential harm. Authorities did not disclose how they connected Anderson to the threats or the exact timeline of the alleged plot. The investigation continues as prosecutors review additional evidence and determine whether to seek further charges.