The Justice Department indicted a group of self described Christian militants who were allegedly plotting to kill law enforcement officers in hopes of inciting an antigovernment uprising.
The indictment centers on a Michigan couple, David B. Stone Sr. and his wife, Tina, who led a group of nine people arrested. Eight defendants, including the Stones and their two sons, were arrested over the weekend in raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Another group later surrendered to police.
The court filing said the group, which called itself the Hutaree, planned to kill an unidentified law enforcement officer and use improvised explosive devices (IED) to bomb the funeral route of the officer. The IEDs were based on designs used by insurgents against American troops in Iraq.
A grand jury had secretly returned the indictments against the nine last Tuesday. The indictment says they stockpiled guns, ammunition and explosives. According to the group’s Web site, it is training to do battle with the Antichrist. They view law enforcement as an agent of the federal government, which they perceive as the enemy.
All nine suspects face charges of sedition, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Stone and one of his sons also face charges of teaching the use of explosive materials.
A federal judge is expected to decide whether the suspected members of the militia will stay in jail until trial.
See more at NPR and the Washington Post.