Abdullatif Aldosary, the Coolidge resident accused of detonating an "explosive device" outside the Social Security Administration building in Casa Grande Friday morning, was hit with two charges yesterday, although just one of those charges is related to the bombing.
The other charge is related to the guns and ammo being found in Aldosary's home after a search warrant was served, since Aldosary -- a convicted felon -- is prohibited from possessing firearms.
See also:
-Abdullatif Aldosary, Described as "Loner," Accused of Bombing Social Security Office
-Explosion Reported at Casa Grande Social Security Office
The charge related to the bombing -- damaging a federal building by means of explosives -- carries a standard penalty of 5-20 years in prison upon conviction, but there are several caveats to that law that can add decades to that total (click here to read the section of U.S. code).
The probable-cause affidavit released yesterday was penned by an FBI agent in the Phoenix division's Joint Terrorism Task Force, but there's been no indication from the feds that this was an act of terrorism.
However, the feds haven't mentioned any motive in general, and as usual, the feds are being tight-lipped. Police have even referred New Times to the FBI when we asked local cops about Aldosary being arrested on misdemeanor charges a few months ago -- we'll provide more on this later today.
Although there are plenty of federal laws related to bombing, bomb-making, and other actions related to bombs (read up on some by clicking here), Aldosary isn't faced with any of that at this time.
However, a federal complaint explains that a search warrant served at Aldosary's home Friday night turned up recipes and materials for explosive devices.
There was a cache of documents hidden behind a photograph on a wall in the house, including "materials and equipment needed to make RDX...homemade nitroglycerine, ammonium nitrate from homemade chemicals, how to make a bomb from homemade chemicals, and recipes from the Anarchists Chemical Cook Book," the complaint says. There were also handwritten notes labeled "Materials Needed," which included a list of things included in the aforementioned recipes. Additionally, investigators found receipts for a nitric-acid solution, and a scale from a chemical-supply store in Phoenix.
The federal complaint later notes -- with no context -- that the explosive named RDX "is stable in storage and is considered one of the most powerful of the military high explosives. RDX is believed to have been used in many bomb plots including terrorist plots."
No one was injured in the explosion, but the feds allege Aldosary detonated the devise outside the Casa Grande Social Security Administration office, and drove off. Debris landed more than 100 feet away from the spot of the detonation, and Aldosary -- who's said to be an Iraqi refugee -- even lit his own car on fire in the blast, and drove off with his car ablaze, according to the complaint.
We'll be following this story, so check back for updates.
