Cleveland Bomb Plot Discovered in Time for May Day
Five men have been arrested after plotting to blow up a bridge outside of Cleveland, Ohio.
The Ohio bridge carries traffic off of a four-lane state highway over part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the Brecksville area FBI officials confirmed. None of the five men who were associated with planning the attack were suspected terrorists; three men described themselves as anarchists.
The men were arrested Monday, after an FBI investigation unveiled the plot through the use of an undercover agent who had supplied the crew with inoperable explosives.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The suspects, whose ages range from 20-35, were seen in attendance at some Occupy Cleveland events, although the organization denied any affiliation. All five are expected to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.
Three of the five men have been charged. Brandon L. Baxter, 20; Douglas L. Wright, 26; and Anthony Hayne, 35 were charged with conspiracy and the attempt to disrupt interstate traffic through the use of explosives. The other two men will face charges on Tuesday.
Authorities stated that the men had considered different plans before deciding to blow up the bridge.
"The individuals charged in this plot were intent on using violence to express their ideological views," Special Agent Stephen D. Anthony, who oversees the FBI's Cleveland division, said in a statement. "The Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to detect and disrupt any terrorism threat, domestic or international."
Occupy Cleveland media coordinator Jacob Wagner confirmed that some Occupy members had been familiar with the suspects, but were unaware of the men's plans.
"Occupy Cleveland has, from the very start, espoused peaceful, nonviolent, direct action," Wagner said. "These alleged actions taken by these people were completely autonomous."
No further comment has been released.
The announcement comes in light of May Day, which is also known as International Worker's Day and often met with demonstrations and marches.
