A man hailing from the state of Texas stands accused of making an alleged attempt to purchase explosives, which, according to the Justice Department, he intended to use against police officers at protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles.
Grzegorz Vandenberg, a 48-year-old, is reported to have acquired fireworks from a travel center located in New Mexico. It was here, federal prosecutors claim, that Vandenberg informed staff of his previous special forces military experience and his proficiency in the construction of pipe bombs.
Turning now to the broader implications, the charging documents state, “Vandenberg informed the cashier that he would be traveling to Los Angeles, California, for the riots to kill law enforcement officers or government officials.” The suspect allegedly queried the clerk about the fireworks in the store containing the highest concentration of explosives, and extended an invitation for the clerk to join him and his self-proclaimed “platoon” in California.
According to the available reports, “Vandenberg purchased six mortars that hold 60 grams of gun powder each, and 36 large fireworks”. Prompted by these concerning remarks, the cashier took down Vandenberg’s license plate number and alerted law enforcement as Vandenberg left the store.
Last Friday, Vandenberg was apprehended in Tucson, Arizona, court records indicate. U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Ryan Ellison, issued a statement highlighting that “Targeting law enforcement with violence is not protest – it’s a crime. Anyone who attempts to harm officers or undermine public safety will be held accountable.”
Over 500 individuals have been arrested in Los Angeles since the onset of the protests on June 6. The protests were triggered in the wake of federal agents executing search warrants authorized by a Los Angeles federal judge at four businesses suspected of employing undocumented immigrants illegally and falsifying employment records, a criminal complaint outlines.
On Tuesday, LA Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew that was initially put in place on June 10. As far as the records show, Vandenberg has yet to appoint an attorney to represent him.
