Michigan man planned to bomb GOP convention, feds say

Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2008 2:45 PM ET
Filed Under: ,

By Pete Williams, NBC News Justice Correspondent

Federal prosecutors today revealed the arrest of a Michigan man who made at least five Molotov cocktails that he planned to throw at the Republican National Convention. He also discussed plans to bomb underground power cables to shut off power to the convention center, according to the Justice Department.

The man, 23-year-old Matthew DePalma of Flint, was arrested Saturday in an apartment in South Minneapolis. FBI investigators say they found three completed Molotov cocktails there. And they say he had spent several weeks building explosives and planning a potential attack.

The FBI began investigating DePalma in July, after he attended a convention of anarchists in Wisconsin called the CrimethInc. Convergence. He told an FBI source there that he planned to go to "make some bombs and "blow [stuff] up" at the Republican convention. From then on, federal agents had him under surveillance with the cooperation of the source, who allowed DePalma to use his Minneapolis apartment, in which the FBI secretly made audio and video recordings of their discussions.

Court documents unsealed Wednesday said DePalma talked about ways to make the flammable liquid in his bombs stickier, so that it would adhere to the targets and burn longer and hotter. He told the source he wanted to attack police officers at the convention, saying, "I will light one of those pigs on fire," the documents say.

The FBI says the source -- whose name has not been revealed -- drove DePalma to remote locations to test the Molotov cocktails. In late August, the documents say, DePalma's first attempt failed but the second device caught fire as intended. Investigators say he managed to make two containers of a flammable gel, like Napalm. In all, they say he made five Molotov cocktails and was captured on FBI video and audio recordings assembling them.

DePalma has a court appearance scheduled for Friday at 1 pm, local time, in Minneapolis. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Updated at 4:20 pm.

Comments

Yes, this guy was a psycho.  But everyone else on here keeps talking about how our law enforcement keeps "us" safe.  No.  This case is about protecting a bunch of politicians and their wealthy contributors.  Yes, they do deserve to be protected, as does everyone else.  But unfortunately, there wouldn't have been near as much investigation involved in catching this idiot if he had planned an attack on regular people.

jay, san francisco, ca (Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:58 AM)

To: Kennedy, Tampa Bay FL
Republicans do NOT bomb innocent foreigners. United States military does and last I knew it took the democrats to go to war also. A fact that is conveniently forgotten by democrats now.
And no, I am not a republican. I am just tired of the hypocrits.

Jeannine, Anderson SC (Thursday, September 04, 2008 10:28 AM)

All of you making this a democrat/republican issue make me sick. He was trying to kill other humans and that is slipping by everyone. If your friend was killed and he was of another political party I would home you people wouldn't consider that a victory. Get a life. Kudos to catching the sick jerk.

Keri, Minneapolis, MN (Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:25 AM)

I don't care if the targets were republicans or democrats; they all are fellow citizens, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandmas, grandpas, sons and daughters of someone. I am happy that any violence was avoided. It is tragic to see that our own can become terrorist, a US national training to kill his own people. It is sad to see that he is so young. I am happy that a tragedy could be avoided. Kudos to law enforcement!

Ninoska, Erie, PA (Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:35 AM)

Saying that this man was a Democrat planning to bomb the Republicans is the reason we're having the problems we're having in this country. People often speak up when they have no idea what they are talking about. I haven't done my research, but no where in this article does it say the ploitical stance, religion, or ethnicity of the bomber. How about we all calm down, read the FACTS, and make an EDUCATED statement about someone who is clearly off his rocker REGARDLESS of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or culture.
We have preconceived notions because of personal conviction. I'm a Mexican/Italian American who can pass for a Middle Eastern person and if someone doesn't know my name, you'd be surprised the looks I get. But once they see my name, I'm ok and I'm welcome. THAT'S what's wrong with this Country. We assume. Thank you for your time.

Keith, Detroit, MI (Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:42 AM)

AHHH, come on Kennedy, you must be Ted's nephew or niece. The biggest percentage of the foreigners that were and have been bombed were Al Qaeda thugs and have MURDERED innocent people. Somebody needed to intercede and stop Saddam. Just think, if Iraq had not been invaded, you can bet your butt that there would be missles raining down on Israel and Jordan.

Republicrat, Atlanta,Ga (Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:59 AM)

I am glad someone mentioning the attemp on Obama, but he didn't get that much attention about what had happen it's like it was trying to be covered up. That is what is wrong with America today it is prejudice, they treat whites different than they treat blacks, it like we  were back in centuries we need to move out of that time and all stand as one because God doesn't care what skin color you are. And that's where we all came from God made all of us. I think it's time for a democratic to run this country we will have more peace, everytime there is a republican in the white house it's always a war, when we have a democrat in the white house we never have a war, americans need to take a very long list of that.

Artis, Albany, NY (Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:00 PM)

Any chance this is a fake news story like the supposed Fla bombers a few months ago?  I for one will withold judgement for a few weeks before believing this news story.  Too many fake terror warnings from this admin to believe this right now.  

Fred Vincennes, In (Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:45 PM)

Come on! I'm 20 years old and I'm assuming that those of you doing the party-bashing are much older. Grow up and address the issues at hand...a man was planning to kill innocent Americans, which is an act of terrorism. No, the FBI did not supply this man with a training camp..they were getting as much evidence as possible without blowing their cover. Yes, it was a planned attack against the Republican Party-it doesn't mean his attack was meant to damage the party itself. It appears to me that he was more concerned with hurting the government in general. The article even said he was planning on setting at least on police officer on fire..

Stop the arguing and band together...this is America, people...act accordingly.

Hannah, Charlotte, NC (Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:49 PM)

Maybe his family is one of the families who have lost their jobs to India and their home to the bank.  I don't agree with violence but then again, I don't know what pushed him to that point.  I would assume that he blames the GOP for his current lot in life, which puts him in the majority, not the minority.

Helen, Aliso Viejo, CA (Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:54 PM)

Well, well, There you all go, My hats off to you all for making up my mind. you all are the ones who creates these monsters. you fight and bicker about if he or what religion he belongs too. all you do is fight, why can't you see that we are called the united states of america, Not the Divided States of America, Now it should be, because you all will never try to get along and try to understand each other.

Brodus McCreggor, Az (Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:13 PM)

Ok so unless everyone read a different story then I, there is no mention of what party he is with or what religion he claims. Bottom line is the guy is nuts, glad law enforcement was taking care of it. And for the one who thinks FBI had anything to do with this... check you facts, if the police of any level think there is a danger they need to find a way to see if he tries to do anything! It doesn't say this guy encouraged him or told him to do it and I am sure that there is proof he didn't oh wait thats info we will never get!! Hello CLASSIFIED INFO!! And perhaps the hit on Obama didn't get as much attention because the FBI wasn't monitoring it for so long....

Vote McCain!! Denver CO!! (Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:20 PM)

Larry C.,
would you rather the FBI informant not helped the FBI to catch the guy with surveillance? Who is to say that he wouldn't have moved on to someone else to help him, and maybe that someone else didn't tell the FBI. Then this plan could have rolled out and innocent people (whether Republican or Democratic makes no difference, still innocent) could have been killed. Did you think about that?

Proterctor of the Innocent (Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:48 PM)

To the people arguing his political sentiments:

If he's a true anarchist, then he can't be a Democrat OR a republican.  Think about it...  If the Democrats were in power, he'd have been bombing their convention, or wherever else symbols of authority were out in force.

DC, Morgantown WV (Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:49 PM)

"you are right! republicans only bomb innocent foreigners!"

Wow its like no one remembers 9/11...they bombed us first so we struck back...iraq was for George W. i will concede but alot of the people we killed over there deserved it...You complain about killing children and innocents...the innocents stuffed grenades into my friends flack jackets and blew them in half so after that if someone got too close we shot them be it a man woman or child

American, Texas (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:10 PM)

Reading what most of you are writig, I think the internet blogs are taken up with verbal terrorists who like attacking one another. Why not question the reason someone would try this, and suggest way to prevent it instead of spewing hateful barbs at one another. I do not usually participate but today in reading all of the trash from both sides on Palin arguing she did really well to others who could not listen to her to the end, this is like children arguing just for the sake of argument. Both parties have ideas that could benefit our country and both parties have ideas that you would be really stretching to call good. So why not promote peace instead of war through words. It is from the "heart" that we speak.

Suzi, Tucson, AZ (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:35 PM)

Tim McVeigh who killed over 100 innocents in Oklahoma City was right wing. Unabomber was left wing. Both parties have crazies, let's admit it.

chris wiegard (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:37 PM)

Sounds like a typical Democrat....
John McCain is My Hero, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Lol this comment is so funny.  It's people like you who make other countries hate Americans.  Such ignorance.  I'm sorry, but politics is supposed to be about arguing your view on how the government should be run.  Not calling people names because they have different beliefs.  And no the guy in the story is not a Democrat.  He is an Anarchist.  Someone who doesn't want a government.

Jesus Christ loves you , St Paul, MN (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:39 PM)

This comment is in response to Larry C's comment above...Do you really think that the FBI is party responsible for giving this man a place to practice his "terrorism?"  Is the FBI really responsible when they saw a person of interest, and followed up with him to see if he's really capable of doing the things he spoke about?  I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be making bombs in the woods just because the FBI offered me the chance/place/means to do so.  I'm a decent human being, and I'd never even think of doing things like that.  He's just someone who needed a way to carry about the thoughts he was having...kudos to the FBI for protecting us.  

Kandra (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:47 PM)

Kennedy,

your statement about republicans bombing innocent foreigners betrays your ignorance on the matter.  Obviosly you have not been there and interacted with these "innocents" or you would not make such a statement.  The people that we are currently combating do not want peace.  They hate us and everything about us.  They would not be satisfied with peace.  They want only to exterminate us.  Those of you that do not have any experiance in dealing with these people should keep your mouths shut and thank those with the courage to protect us.

Pete Hanford, CA (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:48 PM)

It's funny how this article does not have terrorist all over it. and the article is like two paragraphs. If it was about some bogus muslim it would freakn 5 pages long. Hey George W. Bush go scare someone else!!!!!

Wiseman (Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:56 PM)

Whoever thinks that this guy is a typical Democrat lives a sheltered fantasy life. There are bad people all over - Republicans, Democrats, religious leaders non exempt.

Red, Tucson, AZ (Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:19 PM)

Herein lies the true issue. Most of you can not read. No place is there any mention of the perpetrators party affiliation.

Nor to his having any connection to the Muslim religion. he is a domestic terrorist.

as to the FBI being a party to a crime, by going to watch him "test" a bomb, that is absurd. It is called being a plant, and gathering the evidence needed to effect an arrest.

Wake up, be informed. Stop bias.

Rick M.-indianapolis, In.

Rickster133@hotmail.com (Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:41 PM)

I tip my hat to the FBI for doing their job and catching this sick person.I am ashame of the comments from other people who have tried to lable this sick person as a Republican or Democrat. That is just stupid!

Danny L Clarksville, TN. (Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:43 PM)

Kenny of Tampa, you are obviously a lefty liberal, first things first  BLAME AMERICA, yeah we just go around bombing innocents, you are so full of crap, there is noreasoning with warped minds like yours. Have you ever thought once to look and see how much America has done for the world over rthe recorded ages? I mean really study some history that isnt less than a week old. Are ther any other countries in the world that actually does More good than the USA.

Daniel Grapevine Texas (Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:44 PM)

Yup only Republicans partake in war.  Nasty Republicans like LBJ, Kennedy, Truman, FDR, Wilson...

ed NY,NY (Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:51 PM)

I am a democrat and I am from Flint MI. and I am deeply disturbed at this man's actions. I do not believe that the democratic party would claim this man any more than the republicans claimed the ones that attempted to kill Obama. There are dangerous and crazy people everywhere. Let's not use this as an "us against them" platform.

LLB (Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:15 PM)

"interesting...no mention of his religion anywhere. I guess inorder to be a terrorist...you have to be Muslim. Once again the American double standard.
Ozaer Shah"

What you seem to fail to acknowledge, is that whats going on in the middle east is NOT an attack on a religion, but a battle with terroristic religious fanactics.

Terrorism is defined as: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

This had NOTHING to do with religion, so the muslim comment was unwarranted.  This was a simple case of someone that, rather than use the power of the ballot, decided to take things into his own hands; in hopes that it would change the enevitable outcome.

B. Lang, USAF Veteran (Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:22 PM)

This guy wasn't Democrate or Republican he was just crazy. what the right wingers of the GOP stand for is an anathema to me but I would've hated to see anyone hurt or killed just because I dissagree with them.  Too bad there doesn't seem to be any room in this country any more for people to have a civil discourse on differing opinions without someone laying blame.  This guy had nothing to do with the Dems. and anyone thinking he did, has some serious emotional problems.

Lisa, Freeport, NY (Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:57 PM)

I believe JESUS was a comunity organizer - nothing else needs to be said

calong cleveland, ohio (Thursday, September 04, 2008 5:41 PM)

Typical Democrat?  Did all you hypocritical Republicans forget about Bill Gwatney - the Arkansas Democratic Party chairman who was killed by a crazy, lunatic Republican?  Should I say "Typical Republican"?  No. Or how about those Republican lunatics that plotted to kill Obama during the DNC?  No protests at the DNC?  No, just plots to kill people.  There are crazies on both sides, open your eyes and get your heads out of your butts.

Julia, New Haven, Michigan (Thursday, September 04, 2008 10:40 PM)

Please lay off of the "it's because he is black" comments.  I am so sick of hearing that crap.  If we say whites are racists, so are blacks, so are hispanics, etc.  I am a white woman, I go to a black church every Sunday.  I walk into our grocery store which is in a mostly black neighborhood.  I get treated like crap at that store because I am white, but I don't whine and moan that they are racist.  EVERYONE at one point in their life has been judged by what they do and who they are - I feel that the only thing holding different races back, are themselves - complaining about fairness, instead of pursuing their dreams.  
McCain will be a great president - and the reason Obama I disagree with Obama, is not because of his race, but because of his beliefs and policy ideas.
McCain deserves the same respect that Obama received during the DNC.  Stupid, stupid protesting idiots.

Jen - Lubbock, TX (Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:02 PM)

To the FBI who kept this man from using those bombs, and to the law enforcement personnel that have had to deal with the over 400 protestors during this convention...THANK YOU!  Reading the comments made on these articles this week has reminded me of why I am registered as a Republican.  I know that those making hateful, childish, and downright mean comments are not indicative of the entire Democratic Party, but it's very sad that they do not have more respect or maturity than to lash out in a way that only shows their level of intelligence.  I'm sure that there were the same type of comments made from the Republican side during the DNC, but I can almost guarantee you that they weren't nearly as hateful or as many.

Susan Wells, Crystal River, FL (Friday, September 05, 2008 12:07 AM)

Look closer at this report.
"The man, 23-year-old Matthew DePalma of Flint, was arrested Saturday in an apartment in South Minneapolis. FBI investigators say they 'FOUND' three completed Molotov cocktails there. And they say 'HE' had spent several weeks building explosives and planning a potential attack."
The FBI indirectly shepherded DePalma's stupid plan rather than act to shut it down immediately. Had DePalma realized any involvement by the FBI during the course of his aided planning, testing, and preparation we could all be seeing a dramatically alternative outcome, in which typical political punditry of the covention would take a back seat to a new chapter in domestic terrorism. Take a closer look, we owe it to all those who perished almost seven short years ago...

Dane E, Jacksonville, NC (Friday, September 05, 2008 12:13 AM)

It's too bad that many Americans blame Democrats or Republicans for this kind of stuff when it's just a "nut job" on the loose. Of course, we must realize that many "nut jobs" also bring us the NEWS slanted, distorted, biased and self-serving. We all should demand more objective reporting! We rarely hear the Truth!

Tom Kansas City, Missouri (Friday, September 05, 2008 8:43 AM)

I am so disgusted reading some of these comments. It has nothing to do with political race or religion that makes you a terrorist. The bottom line is that this man is sick enough to think that attacking and possibly killing his own fellow citizens will somehow make things better for the USA. Living in MN and being less than 20 minutes away from the RNC makes it very real when these stories come out.

Sarah, Edina, MN (Sunday, September 07, 2008 8:49 AM)

This not a Democratic thing. I don't appreciate those comments. This is the same type of guy as the three men who were arrested for plotting to kill Barack just 1 week prior. So does that make all Republicans potential assasains????

Terrence,Columbus,OH (Monday, September 08, 2008 2:52 PM)

The FBI infiltrated the group, and the dumb anarchist fell into their trap. Now they'll crucify him and give him ten years when he might have just been trying to impress his new friend, the "source". They may even know he wasn't going to do it, but they spent a million bucks, and they needed a successful "operation", so they raided the apartment because they could see he was backing out. Ten years for talking tough and going out to the forest to throw some bottles of gas against a tree. I almost feel sorry for him. Violence solves nothing, though it seems to me the FBI did a whole lot of spying to bag some vandal. On the other hand, the FBI tactic will work: if I were an anarchist, I'd be wondering whether the guy sitting next to me is an FBI plant. Perhaps they'd better forget the violence part of their "mission".

Edward (Monday, September 08, 2008 7:28 PM)

To all the democrats on this thread who are up at arms about the mental tie of this guy to the democrats, it's because he planned on blowing up the RNC.  From the article he made no mention of blowing up or killing people at the DNC.  

Conclusion by process of eliminiation.

Do I think he's a liberal democrat bent on destroying republicans?  No, I think he's a domestic terrorist and needs to be put down like a mad dog.  Period.

To all those who are bashing the republicans on this thread, I ask you to remember that when the war in Iraq went before congress, both sides of the isle approved.  Also remember that like some democrats, not all republicans voted yes.

Anyway, I really wish that people would start thinking for themselves instead of assuming it's some kind of coverup or conspiracy.  Start thinking for yourselves, the few of us who still try to use a voice of reason will thank you in droves.

Polly Proteus, Greyt Pacific NorthWet (Monday, September 08, 2008 10:10 PM)

Oh, please... attempting to link this guy to either party is short-sighted and, frankly, ignorant.  Whatever his party affiliation may or may not be, he was obviously disturbed and more interested in creating a domestic terror act at a large public venue than making a point for his party (which, by the way, neither party would ever endorse... democrat or republican).

Please drop the childish party labeling (intented to distract attention from a lack of real information or thought) and look at the actions and intent of the man in question.

MD (Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:26 AM)

Thank to those who serve in law enforcement. I like to think my 4 yr daughter is safer in our hometown. I am away from her right now and its a relief to THINK law enforcement agencies work a little closer to prevent tragedies and casualties.OOH RAH

Dana,N.C. (Tuesday, September 09, 2008 3:53 PM)

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