FBI & Police: Molotovs, Kidnap Talk Part of Convention Protests
by Josh Gerstein
Wed, 3 Sep 2008 at 6:22 PM
Anarchists intent on disrupting the Republican National Convention discussed kidnapping party delegates and one man affiliated with the group allegedly assembled Molotov cocktails as part of a plan to firebomb the arena where the convention is taking place, according to court documents.
In a yearlong investigation, law enforcement officials used at least two confidential sources and an undercover agent to penetrate the self-styled Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee, records filed in federal and state court show. Police claim a core group of about 30 to 35 people participated in about 100 meetings over the past year.
Matthew DePalma, 23, of Flint, Mich., was arrested Saturday in Minneapolis after federal agents obtained a warrant last Wednesday pursuant to a court complaint charging Mr. DePalma with assembling incendiary devices without a permit. A federal defender appointed for Mr. DePalma did not return a call seeking comment yesterday.
An FBI agent said in court papers that Mr. DePalma had at least five Molotov cocktails and "expressed his desire to build a chemical bomb that he could use to cause a power outage at the Xcel Center," where the convention is being held. Mr. DePalma's arrest was kept secret by the federal court until yesterday.
An affidavit filed by state officials says kidnapping of delegates was discussed at a meeting about a year ago. There are no details on further action of that sort, though discussions about blocking intersections and stopping delegate buses took place throughout the past year, the affidavit said. About 300 people have been arrested in the Twin Cities since Monday, including several journalists caught up in protests.
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