A man who detonated a bomb outside the Alabama Attorney General’s office earlier this year has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert admitted to the malicious use of an explosive device in a plea agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday.
The incident took place in downtown Montgomery on February 24, 2024, and, though no injuries or significant property damage occurred, the case has drawn national attention.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland condemned the attack in a statement, emphasizing that public servants should never be targeted for fulfilling their duties.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable,” Garland said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed these sentiments, warning that violence and destruction of property would not be tolerated.
According to prosecutors, Calvert constructed the bomb using nails, screws, and firecrackers, with the intent to cause shrapnel damage.
Before planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on state buildings promoting various political ideologies, including some that read “Support your local antifa.”
Despite this, Calvert denied any affiliation with Antifa, a decentralized anti-fascist movement.
The plea agreement detailed how Calvert assembled the explosive device and ignited it outside Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office in the early morning hours before fleeing the scene. He was arrested on April 10.
Calvert now faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
