In late February, federal authorities apprehended a man who allegedly set off an explosive device outside the office of the Alabama attorney general.
According to the Department of Justice, Kyle Calvert, a 26-year-old resident of Irondale, Alabama, was taken into custody on Wednesday. He is facing charges of maliciously using an explosive and possessing an unregistered destructive device.
The explosion occurred outside the Montgomery office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on February 24th at around 3:42 a.m., according to authorities. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The following morning, employees from the attorney general’s office were surprised to find the remains of the exploded device when they arrived for work.
According to court filings, agents who retrieved the exploded materials have concluded that the device was contained in a vessel resembling a coffee container. It was packed with gasoline, a mortar, firecrackers, and nails, with the intention of maximizing its destructive power.
Investigators were able to locate Calvert by tracing the vehicle they were seen in before and after the incident. They also compared surveillance footage of Calvert from a previous job to the footage captured at the scene, and noticed that both individuals had a similar distinctive way of walking. Additionally, Calvert had posted a photo on social media wearing goggles that were identical to the ones worn by the person who detonated the explosives.
According to the filings, Calvert is said to have expressed his “violent impulses” and his frustrations with the government on social media. In a video posted on December 12, 2023, Calvert reportedly exclaimed, “How the f— are we not killing the government right now!”
According to the filings, investigators also interviewed a more recent employer of Calvert, who stated that he had noticed some “strange behavior” from Calvert while at work.
Calvert was arrested on Wednesday after a grand jury indicted him. Although online records do not mention the name of his attorney, he will be represented by a federal defender. ABC News reached out to the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama but received no immediate response.
If Calvert is found guilty, the Department of Justice states that he could be sentenced to a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The authorities have not yet disclosed a potential motive for the incident.
“The alleged detonation of an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office has led to the defendant being held accountable, thanks to the efforts of the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners,” stated Attorney General Merrick Garland. He emphasized the Justice Department’s zero tolerance policy towards acts of violence targeting public servants.”
The arrest brought a sense of relief to the Alabama attorney general.
In a statement, Marshall expressed his belief that this was not a random act of violence, although more information will be provided in the weeks to come. He also expressed gratitude towards federal and local partners for their assistance in the matter and expressed satisfaction that the offender faces federal charges that could result in significant prison time.
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