Irondale man charged with detonating explosive device outside of Alabama Attorney General’s Office

Photos from U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama

An Irondale man is facing federal charges that he detonated an explosive device in downtown Montgomery outside the office of the Attorney General.

Today, law enforcement arrested 26-year-old Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert on charges of malicious use of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

As Action 8 News has reported, the device was detonated on Feb. 24 at approximately 3:42AM near the intersection of Washington Avenue and South Bainbridge Street. No injuries or major damage to nearby buildings were reported.

Agents and state troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, along with special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and officers from the Montgomery Police Department responded to the scene when remnants of the device were discovered.

“My staff and I are breathing a collective sigh of relief this morning knowing that this individual has been taken off the streets,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “Although more information will be provided in the weeks to come, I think it is safe to say that this was not a random act of violence. We are grateful to our federal and local partners for their assistance in this matter and are pleased that the offender faces federal charges carrying significant prison time.”

According to court documents from the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama, obtained by Action 8 News, his arrest was partially traced to suspicious stickers that were placed on several state office buildings. Those stickers contained graphics, some with references to Antifa.

Investigators say Antifa doesn’t describe a particular group, but people who hold “anti-fascist beliefs.” The documents say Antifa is often connected to anarchist, violent extremists, who oppose capitalism and the U.S. government.

Investigators say the device was a coffee-container type vessel that contained insulation material that was soaked in flammable liquid, as well as a mortar, firecrackers and nails. The FBI has classified it as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Nails and screws that investigators say were added to the explosive device – Photo from U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama

Investigators say surveillance video, interviews with employers, social media posts and photos of Calvert’s car helped lead to the the arrest.

If convicted, Calvert faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

— Information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Alabama