PHOENIX, Arizona Twelve right wing militia members here arrested in police raids yesterday and charged with plotting to cause civil disorder by blowing up at least seven government offices in the Phoenix area, officials said.
Police seized 400 lb of ammonium nitrate and other bomb making components in" one of three homes that were raided, and authorities said the "Viper Militia" had a training video explaining how to "collapse" buildings.
"The defendants' conduct posed an extreme danger to public safety," said Mr Thomas Gerrity, acting special agent in charge of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, one of the federal agencies allegedly targeted.
Ms Janet Napolitano, US attorney for Arizona, said that the men were suspected of plotting to bomb the Phoenix police headquarters, and buildings in the city housing the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service.