In late February, federal authorities successfully apprehended a man who allegedly set off an explosive device outside the office of the Alabama attorney general.
The Department of Justice has announced the arrest of Kyle Calvert, a 26-year-old resident of Irondale, Alabama. Calvert was taken into custody on Wednesday and is facing charges of malicious use of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
On February 24th, at around 3:42 a.m., an explosive device detonated outside the Montgomery office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, according to authorities. Fortunately, no one was harmed in the incident. The contents of the exploded device were only discovered by the attorney general’s office staff when they arrived for work the following morning.
According to court filings, agents who discovered the exploded materials concluded that the device was concealed inside a container resembling a coffee canister. It was found to be filled with gasoline, a mortar, firecrackers, and nails, all intended to enhance its destructive power.
According to the filings, investigators were able to locate Calvert by tracing the vehicle the individual was spotted in before and after the incident. They also compared surveillance footage of Calvert from a previous job to the footage of the suspect captured at the scene, noting a similar “unique gait” in both. Furthermore, Calvert’s social media post featuring goggles that were “identical” to those worn by the person who detonated the explosives provided additional evidence.
According to the filings, Calvert supposedly expressed his “violent impulses” and his frustrations with the government on social media. He reportedly stated, “How the f— are we not killing the government right now!” in a video that was posted on Dec. 12, 2023.
According to the filings, Calvert’s more recent employer mentioned that he displayed “strange behavior” while at work. Investigators also interviewed this employer.
On Wednesday, authorities apprehended Calvert after he was indicted by a grand jury. Although online records do not disclose the identity of his attorney, a federal defender will be representing him. ABC News reached out to the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama for comment.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Calvert could potentially be sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years if found guilty.
Authorities have not yet revealed a potential motive for the incident.
Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed gratitude for the collaboration between the FBI and state and local law enforcement agencies, as it led to the apprehension of the defendant responsible for detonating an explosive device outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. In a statement, Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for acts of violence against public servants, stating, “The Justice Department has zero tolerance for such acts.”
The arrest brought relief to the Alabama attorney general.
Marshall expressed in a statement that while more details will be shared in the future, it is evident that this act of violence was not random. He expressed gratitude towards the federal and local partners for their support and assistance, and he also mentioned that the offender will be facing federal charges that carry substantial prison time.
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