Federal agents thwart man's explosive alleged plot against officers during LA riots

A antheral is successful custody aft national authorities foiled an alleged program to usage large-scale fireworks and different explosive devices against constabulary and authorities officials astatine riots protesting deportation efforts in California. 

Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, is facing national charges for allegedly buying fireworks with the intent to harm law enforcement officers and authorities officials astatine the Los Angeles protests, the Department of Justice said successful a property release. 

Vandenberg allegedly visited a question halfway successful New Mexico, wherever helium "requested assistance successful selecting fireworks that could beryllium thrown straight astatine radical to origin harm," according to prosecutors. 

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A instrumentality enforcement serviceman fires a less-lethal projectile during a protestation Saturday, June 14, 2025, successful Los Angeles. (Noah Berger)

While astatine the store, national authorities allege, helium told employees helium antecedently served successful the military’s peculiar forces and claimed helium could marque tube bombs earlier revealing helium was readying to question to Los Angeles to termination instrumentality enforcement officers and authorities officials successful the anti-ICE riots. 

"This antheral allegedly intended to usage the chaotic riots successful Los Angeles arsenic an accidental to perpetrate deadly unit against instrumentality enforcement officers," Attorney General Pam Bondi said successful a statement. "Threats similar these onslaught astatine the bosom of instrumentality and order. We volition not hesitate to bring national charges against anyone who seeks to harm instrumentality enforcement oregon endanger the information of our communities."

Staff members astatine the store told authorities Vandenberg requested to bargain the "largest explosives available" and invited an worker to articulation him astatine the riots, the DOJ said. 

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Protesters clash with constabulary successful Los Angeles June 8, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

He besides allegedly claimed to beryllium successful possession of mortar explosives and further revealed his program to usage them connected officers astatine the riots. Vandenberg yet "purchased six mortars," each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 ample fireworks, according to national prosecutors. 

"Our connection is clear: If you travel aft instrumentality enforcement officers, the FBI volition spare nary effort to find you and bring you to justice," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "This suspect allegedly intended to usage explosives to onslaught constabulary officers presently conducting instrumentality enforcement operations successful Los Angeles and – with the assistance of a store cashier who took down his licence sheet accusation – we were capable to enactment a halt to that plan." 

The DOJ did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment. 

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Sheriff's deputies basal amid teardrop state during a "No Kings" objection successful the one-square-mile country wherever regular protests person been occurring successful effect to national migration raids June 14, 2025, successful Los Angeles. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Vandenberg was charged with transporting explosives successful interstate commerce with the cognition and intent that they would beryllium utilized to kill, injure oregon intimidate individuals, according to the DOJ. He is successful custody arsenic helium awaits proceedings and faces up to 10 years successful national situation if convicted. 

Fox News Digital was incapable to instantly place an lawyer for Vandenberg. 

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"Targeting instrumentality enforcement with unit is not protestation – it’s a crime," U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico said. "Anyone who attempts to harm officers oregon undermine nationalist information volition beryllium held accountable."