BURSTTwo people face terrorism charges, the first terrorism charges directed toward anyone accused of being linked to antifa, in connection with a shooting outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4.
A federal grand jury indicted Cameron Arnold of Dallas and Zachary Evetts of Waxahachie, Texas. Both face seven charges, including three counts of discharging a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence; and three counts of attempted murder of officers and employees of the United States.
Arnold and Evetts are also accused of providing material support to terrorists.
The charges stem from a shooting at the detention center where "a North Texas Antifa Cell of at least eleven operatives, clad in black and donning masks, some of whom were wearing body armor and carrying firearms" shot off fireworks at the facility, prompting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) correctional officers to investigate, authorities said.
After Alvarado police officers arrived, a person in black carrying a rifle shot at the officers and struck one in the neck area, according to authorities. The person in black was Arnold, prosecutors said, adding that he kept shooting until the rifle jammed and ran off with the other "attackers."
Before the shooting, prosecutors said that the "cell" planned the attack. The goal "was to destroy U.S. government property and commit acts dangerous to human life intended to influence the policy of the U.S. government and affect government conduct by intimidation and coercion," the indictment reads.
Attorney General Pam Bondi shared photos of the indictment on the social platform X and referred to President Trump's executive order last month where he designated antifa a terrorist organization.
"As @POTUS has made clear, Antifa is a left-wing terrorist organization," Bondi posted on X on Wednesday. "They will be prosecuted as such."
Trump's order claimed that antifa uses “illegal means to organize and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide” to accomplish its goals of overthrowing the government and law enforcement.
The executive order has raised concerns about a broader crackdown on left-wing groups in the country because experts argue antifa is a decentralized ideology with no clear leadership structure.