A man from Arizona, whom officials claim became radicalized through the internet, was found guilty on Thursday for placing a mock explosive device at a church in Roseville. This information comes from official court papers.
Zimnako Salah, aged 45, was convicted in federal court in Sacramento of issuing a bomb threat and impeding the right to freely practice one’s religion. securing a dark backpack to the rear of a toilet inside a church In 2023, the individuals in charge believed he had set off a bomb. Additionally, he was found guilty of attacking the church due to the congregation’s Christian beliefs, which classified the offense as a hate crime.
Over the course of an 11-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, prosecutors stated that Salah informed the FBI he was born in Iraq yet had resided in the Phoenix region for approximately two decades. According to them, Salah transported backpacks to various churches located in San Diego, Phoenix, and Denver; he managed to plant one such package inside a church in Arizona.
In a filing submitted to the court during the proceedings, prosecutors described these actions as a "trial run" for constructing an actual bomb. They alleged that Salah was trying to put together this weapon at a storage unit. According to an affidavit from FBI investigators, law enforcement discovered items such as a pipe, nails, and additional components within this facility which could potentially be utilized to create an explosive device.
"Placing a fake bomb at the Roseville church wasn’t just one separate event or a joke for this defendant," said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwood. stated on Friday in a press statement His behavior was intended to menace and frighten the congregation as they held differing religious views.
The case has similarly attracted the notice of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who stated in a press release on Friday that Salah will confront "significant consequences."
"This Department of Justice will not tolerate anyone who attacks religious Americans because of their beliefs," Bondi stated.
Roseville church bomb scare
At the Roseville church, both staff members and volunteers were frightened when security discovered the backpack just after the Sunday service concluded on November 12, 2023, according to an FBI statement.
They relocated the special needs classroom, which was previously close to the bathroom, further away and set up a substantial boundary around the location, according to the affidavit. Despite calling 911 twice, they opted to open the backpack themselves when law enforcement did not show up, removing it from the toilet and bringing it to the kitchen area of the church, as stated in the document.
The volunteers and staff put on gloves, brought in a first-aid specialist, and offered a prayer before opening the backpack, only to discover it was filled with a pillow, according to the affidavit.
A volunteer informed the FBI that she believed she "could encounter Jesus today," according to the affidavit.
Initially, an employee believed it was abandoned by one of the teenagers who attended a big camping event at the church the previous day, according to the affidavit. However, upon reviewing surveillance videos, they discovered that a stranger had actually brought it inside.
Prosecutors stated that Salah traveled to multiple sites in California and Arizona using a green Prius, often switching its license plates. An examination of his internet usage revealed that he viewed "extreme propaganda" and looked up videos depicting "non-believers' deaths." According to Beckwith’s office in a press statement, he also watched clips of ISIS members executing individuals.
Salah is set to receive his sentence on July 18 from U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, according to court documents. The charges he faces could result in up to six years behind bars and a maximum fine of $250,000, as stated by Beckwith.
