A man arrested in Tucson purchased fireworks he planned to launch at police during demonstrations in Los Angeles, federal prosecutors say.
The incident started June 12, when Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, of Texas, stopped at a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico and told a sales clerk he was looking for powerful fireworks "to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during riots in California," a news release from the US Attorney's Office in New Mexico said.
"Vandenberg further stated that he was traveling to Los Angeles, California, for the riots, with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials," the release said. "Vandenberg asked for the largest explosives available and invited an employee to join him and his platoon in California."
Vandenberg bought six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, along with six large fireworks.
Workers at the travel center notified authorities about the encounter and provided them with his license plate, the release said.
He was arrested in Tucson on June 13 near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in Arizona said. Vandenberg was arrested onsuspicion of transporting explosives in interstate commerce with intent to harm or kill people, the release said.
Vandenberg faces up to 10 years in federal prison, the release said.
