A man from Alabama, Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, admitted on Friday that he set off a homemade explosive device filled with nails outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office earlier this year, according to the Department of Justice.
Calvert, from Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to using the explosive device maliciously. The explosion occurred early on February 24 in downtown Montgomery, but thankfully, no one was hurt.
During the hearing, Calvert confessed to making the bomb himself. He used items like nails and screws to create shrapnel and added materials to cause an explosion. The DOJ stated that Calvert filled the device with nails to make it more dangerous.
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After placing the bomb near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit the fuse and quickly left the area. He was arrested on April 10 by law enforcement.
Calvert had previously shared content supporting Antifa on social media and expressed his belief that violence should be used against the government. He also placed Antifa stickers near the scene of the crime. However, Calvert claimed that he was not directly associated with Antifa, a far-left movement that believes in confronting fascism with direct action and physical confrontation.
Calvert now faces a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that no public servant should be targeted for doing their job, and the Justice Department will take strong action against such attacks.
Court documents revealed that Calvert was considered dangerous, as he had mentioned his struggle to control his violent and aggressive impulses. Some of the stickers he allegedly posted around the area included messages like “ANTI-FASCISM IS COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE,” “ABOLISH PRIVATE PROPERTY,” and “EAT THE RICH,” with the “A” in “EAT” shaped like an anarchy symbol.
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach emphasized that attacks like this are intended to harm public officials and create fear. He assured that ATF is committed to bringing those who attack American institutions to justice.