Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Anarchists Planned Bombing of Cleveland-Area Bridge, 2 LE Centers

FBI agents arrested five members of an anarchist group Monday who are charged with planning to bomb an Ohio bridge and identifying other targets including a justice center, fusion center, second bridge, Federal Reserve Bank, and Ku Klux Klan location.

May 1, 2012
2 min to read


FBI agents arrested five members of an anarchist group Monday who planned to bomb an Ohio bridge and had identified other targets including a justice center, fusion center, second bridge, Federal Reserve Bank, and Ku Klux Klan location.

The men were arrested by the FBI's Joint Terrorist Task Force. An undercover informant had infiltrated the group, according to the FBI.

Ad Loading...

"The individuals charged in this plot were intent on using violence to express their ideological views," said Stephen Anthony, the FBI's special agent in charge in Cleveland. "The Joint Terrorism Task Force will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to detect and disrupt any terrorism threat, domestic or international."

Douglas Wright, 26; Brandon Baxter, 20; and Anthony Hayne, 35, have been charged with conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce. Charges are pending against Connor Stevens, 20, and Joshua Stafford, 23.

It's believed the suspects initially planned to use smoke grenades to distract law enforcement so they could topple financial institution signs atop high rise buildings in downtown Cleveland, according to the complaint.

The defendants are also charged with conspiring to place improvised explosive devices with C-4 explosives that would be remotely detonated.

The defendants discussed various bridges and physical targets around the Cleveland metropolitan area over several months, according to an affidavit, and they eventually picked the Route 82 Brecksville-Northfield High Level Bridge as the designated target. This bridge crosses from Brecksville to Sagamore Hills over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Ad Loading...

According to an affidavit, the men also discussed bombing the Justice Center, Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center in Cuyahoga County, Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, an Interstate 480 bridge known as the Valley View bridge, and an unidentified Ku Klux Klan location, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Wright, Baxter, Hayne, Stevens, and Stafford appear today before a federal magistrate in U.S. District court in Cleveland.

More Patrol

backgroudn image of desert with inset 5.11 logo and images of pant and boot.
PatrolJanuary 28, 2026

5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show

5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.

Read More →
Three tactical backpacks set against a desert background with an inset logo for 5.11.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show

5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
Blue background with Streamlight logo at top and inset images of one handgun light, two rifle lights, and one handheld light.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show

Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
dark ballistic sunglasses against a blue smokey background
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

EOTech & Fast Metal Introduce the EOTech Halen Ballistic Spectacle System

Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.

Read More →
Black background, outline of Florida, headline 2 Officers Shot
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 14, 2026

2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call

Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.

Read More →
Blue-tinted background photo of hand hanging up an office phone and headline Richmond Heights PD: Harassment and Threats Will Be Addressed Accordingly
PatrolJanuary 14, 2026

Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS

An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →