A former Navy Seal and alleged neo-Nazi sympathizer plotted to attack cops with “mortar” fireworks at an anti-Trump “No Kings” rally in California and now faces up to 10 years behind bars, according to the feds.
Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was convicted Monday of transporting fireworks across state lines with the intent to injure law enforcement at a protest in San Diego in June, authorities said.
When law enforcement caught up to the would-be cop-attacker, he had a t-shirt with him with a variation of the Black Sun, a neo-Nazi symbol, along with other anti-Israel paraphernalia.
Cell phone records revealed he was upset with President Trump because he believed the US government is controlled by Israel and the Jewish people, according to the Department of Justice.
The explosives Vandenberg intended to use on police at the rally were picked up at a New Mexico travel center while he was going from El Paso to San Diego to attend the “No Kings Day” protest June 14, officials said.
Vandenberg wanted fireworks with the most explosive impact, asking about the amount of gun powder in them and their ability to harm law enforcement, the investigation revealed.
He settled on six mortar fireworks designed to shoot in the air and 72 M-150 firecrackers that sound like gunfire. He also asked the clerk to join him in throwing the explosives at police during the rally, the DOJ said.
The cashier went on red alert after Vandenberg asked if the store was going to track him. Employees immediately wrote down his license plate and called the police, according to the feds.
Federal agents caught up to the ex-Seal, who was living in his car in Tucson, Ariz., with the fireworks. It was further discovered that Vandenberg wore a t-shirt that he had made with “AMALEK” emblazoned on the front — that he stated meant the “destroyer of Jews,” officials said.
“People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and to express them peacefully,” said acting US Attorney Ryan Ellison in a statement. “What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others.
“Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation”
The jury trial lasted five days. Vandenberg remains in custody and faces 10 years at sentencing.
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