A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing explosives in New Mexico and expressing intent to use them against law enforcement officers during civil unrest in California, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, was arrested following an encounter at a travel center in Lordsburg, N.M., where his comments and purchases raised immediate red flags.
According to court documents, on June 12, Vandenberg entered the store and requested help selecting the “largest” fireworks that could be thrown at people in order to injure them. During the transaction, he allegedly told staff he was a former special forces operative and claimed he had the knowledge to build pipe bombs. Vandenberg allegedly stated he was en route to Los Angeles for upcoming riots, where he intended to kill police officers and government officials…