Matthew Bjornholt, 27, faces a felony charge of making a terrorist threat over an alleged plan to carry out a mass casualty attack at a Jewish or Muslim house of worship in Arizona. Prosecutors say the alleged plot involved explosives, firearms and an accomplice who would shoot survivors. They also allege Bjornholt possessed The Anarchist Cookbook, a bomb-making manual associated with Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. His defense attorney disputes the allegations and says the case relies on unverified hearsay.
The case was presented in Maricopa County court on Friday, where prosecutors sought a $500,000 cash bond and described Bjornholt as an imminent danger to the community. The judge set bond at $100,000, finding enough probable cause for the case to proceed while noting that the preliminary evidence relied heavily on hearsay.
| 1) | Alleged plan targeted a religious site |
| 2) | Prosecutors cite weapons and bomb-making manual |
| 3) | Defense challenges the evidence |
| 4) | Judge sets bond and finds probable cause |
| 5) | Next court dates remain scheduled |
Alleged plan targeted a religious site
Maricopa County prosecutors allege that Matthew Bjornholt developed a detailed plan to attack a religious site in Arizona. The alleged targets were described generally as a Jewish or Muslim house of worship, and authorities have not identified a specific facility. Prosecutors say the proposed attack would have involved detonating explosives before an accomplice used firearms against people who survived.
The allegations were presented in connection with a felony count of making a terrorist threat. The prosecution has not publicly established whether a specific accomplice had been identified or whether preparations had advanced beyond the alleged planning described in court.
Prosecutors cite weapons and bomb-making manual
Prosecutor Stephen Garcia told the court that Bjornholt possessed The Anarchist Cookbook, a manual containing bomb-making instructions. The book has been associated with Timothy McVeigh, who carried out the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Garcia alleged that Bjornholt referred to the manual as his “Bible.”
Investigators later seized three guns and ammunition from Bjornholt’s home. Prosecutors cited those items, the alleged plan and Bjornholt’s criminal history while seeking a $500,000 cash bond. The available allegations do not establish that explosives or bomb-making materials were recovered from the residence.
Prosecutors described the alleged plan as involving bombs followed by an accomplice “picking off people” with firearms.
Defense challenges the evidence
Defense attorney Chad Schell argued that the case was based on unverified statements from a former acquaintance. Schell said the person had briefly stayed at Bjornholt’s home before being asked to leave late in the month preceding the investigation. He characterized the informant as a disgruntled individual and disputed the reliability of the claims.
Schell said the FBI searched Bjornholt’s home on September 29 after obtaining a warrant. According to the defense, Bjornholt voluntarily provided electronic devices and passwords, and federal investigators found no evidence of terrorism or bomb-making materials. Schell said federal authorities did not file charges before county officials assumed responsibility for the case.
Chad Schell told the court, “There is no evidence he’s a danger to the community.”
The defense also maintained that the seized guns were lawfully possessed. Schell said Bjornholt’s civil rights had been restored after he completed a prior sentence on a drug charge connected to a closed first-degree murder case. He said the murder charge had been dropped for lack of evidence and described the ammunition as standard magazine loads.
Judge sets bond and finds probable cause
During the Friday court appearance in Maricopa County, prosecutors requested a $500,000 cash bond, arguing that Bjornholt posed an immediate public safety threat. The judge instead set bond at $100,000. The ruling reflected the court’s assessment that the preliminary evidence relied heavily on hearsay, while still finding sufficient probable cause for the criminal case to continue.
The bond decision does not resolve the allegations. Prosecutors must continue presenting evidence through the court process, while the defense may challenge the credibility of the informant, the interpretation of the seized materials and the legality or significance of the weapons and ammunition.
Next court dates remain scheduled
Bjornholt is scheduled to return to court on October 22 for a status conference. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 26. Those proceedings are expected to address the status of the charge and the evidence supporting the allegation of a terrorist threat.
It remains unclear whether investigators believe a particular house of worship was selected, whether an accomplice was involved or whether authorities found evidence of an imminent attack. The case remains pending, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Bjornholt faces a felony terrorist threat charge. |
| 2 | Prosecutors allege a plan involving explosives, guns and an accomplice. |
| 3 | Three guns and ammunition were seized from his home. |
| 4 | The defense says the case relies on hearsay and disputes the danger assessment. |
| 5 | Bond was set at $100,000, with hearings scheduled for October 22 and October 26. |
Summary
The Arizona case centers on allegations that Matthew Bjornholt planned an attack on a religious site and possessed a manual associated with bomb-making instructions. Prosecutors presented the allegations as a public safety threat, while the defense challenged the reliability of the information and said an FBI search did not uncover terrorism-related evidence. The judge allowed the case to proceed on probable cause but set a bond substantially below the amount requested by prosecutors. Further proceedings will determine whether the evidence supports continued prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charge does Matthew Bjornholt face?
He faces a felony count of making a terrorist threat in Maricopa County, Arizona.
What do prosecutors allege he planned?
Prosecutors allege he planned to attack a Jewish or Muslim house of worship using explosives and firearms, with an accomplice allegedly assigned to shoot survivors.
What does the defense say?
Defense attorney Chad Schell says the allegations rely on unverified hearsay, that an FBI search found no terrorism or bomb-making evidence, and that the seized firearms were lawfully possessed.
What happens next?
Bjornholt is scheduled for a status conference on October 22 and a preliminary hearing on October 26.
