Man arrested in Arizona allegedly planned to shoot powerful fireworks at police during LA protests

PHOENIX – A man who allegedly bought fireworks to shoot at police during protests in California was arrested in Arizona last week, authorities said.

Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, was taken into custody near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson on Friday, according to the FBI. He has no connection to the base.

Vandenberg was charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with the knowledge and intent that they would be used to kill, injure or intimidate individuals. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

Why was Texas man arrested in Arizona?

Prosecutors said the Texas resident visited a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico, last Thursday to purchase fireworks and asked employees for the largest explosives possible.

According to court records, the man allegedly told store employees that he had previously served in the military’s special forces and could make pipe bombs. He said he was traveling to Los Angeles for the protests and already had mortar explosives with him and was planning to use them to kill law enforcement officers or public officials.

Authorities said Vandenberg purchased six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 large fireworks before leaving the store.

He was tracked down using his license plate and arrested in Arizona a day before ‘No Kings’ demonstrations against President Donald Trump were held across the nation on Saturday.

“This man allegedly intended to use the chaotic riots in Los Angeles as an opportunity to commit deadly violence against law enforcement officers,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Threats like these strike at the heart of law and order — we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement or endanger the safety of our communities.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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