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May 2, 2012

5 Cleveland Activists Arrested for Informant-Abetted Bombing Plot 
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The FBI has arrested five self-described anarchists for allegedly
seeking to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge. FBI Special Agent Stephen
Anthony said the suspects were detained after planting and detonating
what they thought were active bombs. It turned out the bombs were fakes
supplied by FBI informants.

Stephen Anthony: "They ultimately negotiated with FBI undercover agents
and purchased two inert, I say inert, improvised explosive devices,
I.E.D.s, which were presented as C4-based, remote activated I.E.D.s.
Last night, the co-conspirators places the two inert I.E.D.s at the base
of a concrete support pillar for this Brecksville-Northfield High Level
Bridge and attempted to remotely detonate the devices from a location
that they deemed safe and one that would possibly give them an alibi.
All five co-conspirators were taken into custody last night by the FBI
and JTTF shortly after they attempted to remotely detonate these inert
devices."

The role of FBI informants in supplying the fake bombs mirrors that of
previous cases where government entrapment has been alleged. Some of the
suspects reportedly had ties to Occupy Cleveland and were said to have
been disgruntled with the group's non-violent tactics. After the charges
were announced, the group Occupy Cleveland cancelled its planned May Day
march.

 

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