Utah Man Charged With Attempted Hate Crime After Allegedly Making Threat to Blow Up a Synagogue

Good morning. Thank you for joining us today. I'm Melissa Holyoak. I'm the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. Today we are here to discuss a case involving an alleged attempted hate crime, as well as other serious federal crimes committed after a defendant allegedly made online threats to blow up the synagogue. Before we get into the facts of the case, I'd like to introduce everyone standing up here today. First, we have Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice, Harmeet Dhillon, and you'll hear from her directly following my introductions. After Assistant Attorney General Dhillon speaks, I will provide some remarks, and that will be followed by Salt Lake FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Andy Liu, and Ogden City Police Chief, Jake Super. So I'll now turn the time over to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. Thank you so much for that introduction, and US Attorney Melissa Holyoak. I'm grateful to be standing here today with our law enforcement partners who helped make today's news possible. I want to thank the FBI, especially Assistant Special Agent in Charge Andy Liu, and Ogden Police Department Chief Jake Suby, and the multiple other federal, state, and local partners for their outstanding efforts in this investigation that led to today's indictment. As the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights for the United States, my duty is to ensure that the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division is a bastion of protection whenever we detect threats or attacks on worshipers or any house of worship in the United States. I'm responsible for evaluating and certifying all charges throughout the United States involving attacks on houses of worship and hate crimes motivated by religious bias. The Civil Rights Division will continue to bring the full force and weight of federal criminal authorities against offenders who target people of faith because of their faith. Since the October 7th terrorist attack and taking of hostages by Hamas in Israel, our nation has seen an alarming rise in anti-semitic threats and violence. The Civil Rights Division has been on the forefront of the federal response to the scourge of anti-semitism and anti-religious violence and law enforcement agencies nationwide regularly refer these matters to us for investigation and prosecution. Less than two months ago, I certified a hate crime charge against a man who allegedly assaulted a congregant at a synagogue during a Shabbat service in New York. That same month, we secured a 10-year sentence for a man who obstructed the free exercise of religious beliefs by firing a shotgun outside a synagogue while yelling free Palestine in the northern district of New York. In June, my prosecutors indicted a man for attempting to carry out a mass shooting at an Israeli nonprofit organization in the Southern District of Florida and the Civil Rights Division is currently prosecuting a man who attacked supporters of the Israeli hostages with Molotov cocktails killing one person and injuring several others in Colorado these recent examples of anti-semitic threats and violence are intolerable and we're vigorously pursuing justice for victims in each of these cases that brings us to this case as alleged in today's indictment the defendant assembled six pipe bombs and acquired two rifles and ammunition the defendant allegedly searched on his cell phone for the only synagogue located in Ogden Utah which was a mere 10-minute drive from his home the defendant allegedly posted i want to blow up the synagogue death to Israel, and when the power goes out, I must hunt the Jews. This indictment alleges that the defendant assembled a means to bomb the synagogue, that he knew the synagogue was what he wanted to target, and that he wanted to carry out the bombing on the basis of religious bias. These allegations show a clear plan to terrorize Jewish Utahns at their place of worship, and thankfully law enforcement was able to stop the defendant before the alleged plan could become a reality. have a fundamental constitutional right to worship freely and without fear. Today's indictment is the culmination of a law enforcement effort that stopped in its tracks an alleged plan to bomb a synagogue by a person who openly declared his hatred for both Israel and his intent to kill Jews. The Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to eradicating violence against all people of faith and all houses of worship. We will not rest as long as this type of zealotry and attacks Americans. Let me be clear, if anyone seeks to target people or houses of worship for violence because of religious bias, we will catch them, we will prosecute them. I want to thank our law enforcement partners again, U.S. Attorney Holyoke, the FBI, and the Ogden Police for outstanding work to stop this anti-semitic attack in its tracks. And now I'm going to turn time back over to the United States Attorney. Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Attorney General Dillon. Yesterday, a federal grand jury indicted 22-year-old Skyler Rose of Ogden, Utah. As listed in the indictment, he is charged with receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography, possession of an unregistered destructive device, threatening to kill and injure persons and to destroy a building with an explosive, and attempting to commit a hate crime. Rose's initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for this Friday at 1.30 p.m. in Federal Court in Salt Lake City. The indictment alleges that on December 23rd, 2025, Rose allegedly made multiple threatening posts on social media, including one threatening post that read, quote, I want to blow up a synagogue. Due to the nature of the online threats, FBI contacted Ogden City Police Department to assist with visiting the defendant's home and confirm the social media handle that belonged to Rose. During an executed search warrant, law enforcement recovered six improvised explosive pipe bombs and one inert device, explosive precursors and components, which could be used to construct further improvised explosive pipe bombs, a cell phone, and two rifles, along with magazines and ammunition. During the investigation, a subsequent search warrant was obtained by law enforcement to search Rose's cell phone. The search revealed that in November 2025, Rose allegedly searched online for a synagogue near him. The investigation further revealed that Rosa's cell phone allegedly contained evidence of child sexual abuse material, otherwise known as CSAM. An indictment, of course, is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law. If convicted, the maximum sentence for the child pornography charges is 20 years in each, and the maximum sentence for the remaining three counts is 10 years per count, for a total maximum possible sentence of 70 years. I want to be clear, there is no place for hate-motivated violence, attempts or otherwise, in our community. A place of worship should be a refuge, peace, and safety. Our Jewish communities should live their faith. Without fear of religious motivation and rapid response exemplify the professionalism and commitment of law enforcement at every level. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety, the Davis County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad, the Weber County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Weber County Attorney's Office. Let these charges serve as a clear warning. If you attack or attempt to attack a house of worship, you will face the full force of the federal government. My office and with support of our law enforcement partners will continue to defend Americans fundamental freedoms. Every Every person in this nation must be able to practice their religion without fear of violence or persecution. Thank you all for being here today. I'll now turn the time over to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Andy Liu with the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Good morning. My name is Andy Liu. I am an Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. I'm honored to be standing up here today alongside the United States Attorney and the Assistant Attorney General and our partners with the Ogden Police Department. Hate isn't something that you read in the news or see in statistics. It hits home in everyday life. You see it when parents worry about sending their children to school, when people can't feel safe in place of worship, and when places that are supposed to feel safe become a source for anxiety and fear. No one should have to fear for their safety because of their faith. Every person deserves to worship freely without threats, intimidation, and fear. Hate crimes are not just an attack on victims, but they're meant to intimidate and threaten an entire community. The FBI takes every threat seriously, and when we received information about the threatening online post, we acted immediately. We addressed the threat, and we immediately reached out and coordinated with the Austin Police Department. And thanks to that swift, seamless coordination, we were able to prevent this physical harm. This case stands as a powerful example of what a strong law enforcement partnership can achieve. We work every day to strengthen this relationship, not only with fellow law enforcement, but with the public we serve. We recognize the deep anxiety that local incidents create, whether it is a threat against the Ogden Synagogue or the horrific violence at Valley Fair Mall. These moments weigh heavily on all of us. They serve as stark reminders of why our presence and our work are so urgent. At the same time, protecting your civil liberties is just as fundamental as protecting public safety. The FBI cannot and does not open an investigation solely based on protected First Amendment activities. We don't investigate beliefs. We investigate people rhetoric, I mean, I'm sorry, we investigate criminal actions, violence driven by ideology, protecting your constitutional rights, and preserving public safety are two sides of the same coin. Everything the FBI accomplishes relies on the trust of the people we serve. We always encourage the public, if you see something, say something. If you do see or hear anything concerning, allow us to intervene and evaluate the threat before words become violence. Together, let us continue to protect, unite, and strengthen our communities. I want to thank you all for your time. I want to turn this back to Chief. Thank you. I'm glad to be here with you this morning. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this press conference this morning. This case is an excellent example of why strong partnerships and effective information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is so important. This investigation began with information that originated with the FBI and was shared with the Utah State Information Analysis Center, or SIAC, which operates within the Department of Public Safety. SIAC recognized the connection to Ogden quickly and provided that information to our department so we could respond to investigate. When that information reached our department, we took it seriously and acted on it immediately. The Ogden Police Department Area Tactical Analysis Center, or ATAC, played an important role in the initial response, helping develop the information and assisting our officers in investigating and in locating the individual involved. As the investigation moved forward, personnel discovered multiple suspected explosive devices that discovery brought additional specialized resources into the investigation including as has been mentioned members of the Davis County bomb squad, Weber County bomb technicians, the FBI and the ATF. This case, this is a case where the system worked the way it's supposed to work information concerning a potential threat was identified, taken seriously, shared across jurisdictional lines directed to the appropriate local authorities and acted upon it also demonstrates why these partnerships matter no single agency has every piece of information resource or capability needed to address threats of this magnitude, but when federal, state, local agencies work together we can move complex cases forward quickly share critical information and make sure the right resources are involved at the right time, most importantly that cooperation allows law enforcement to intervene before anyone was harmed, that is why we take these threats of violence seriously particularly threats directed at a community place of worship or a group of people, sometimes an investigation determines that that a threat is not credible, other times as in this case, as this case demonstrates follow-up uncovers something much more serious. I am proud of the Ogden Police Department officers investigators the ATAC personnel who responded to this case I'm equally grateful to our partners at the FBI the Utah Department of Public Safety and SIAC, the Davis County bomb squad, the Weber County bomb technician, the ATF and all the other law enforcement agencies and public safety professionals who've contributed to this investigation. I also want to recognize the Weber County Attorney's Office as they were an important resource early in the investigation and helped coordinate the cases that developed between local and state partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office. I also want to specifically recognize the U.S. Attorney's Office for taking the investigation forward through the federal criminal justice system and continuing the effort to hold individuals, this individual involved, accountable under federal law. From the initial information sharing through the investigation and response and now into federal prosecution this case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal state and local agencies work together because of that cooperation and the quick actions of everyone involved this serious threat was intercepted before anyone was harmed this is the outcome all of us want when we respond to cases like this and it is why these partnerships are so important thank you thank you and thank you all for joining us this morning and we're happy to take a few questions community about you know when it comes to safety things like that over this past year has there been heightened security things like that what's that look like right now as uh as our law enforcement partners talked about it's so important to have really good relationships here and just recently in the last few weeks we co-sponsored our office with the Utah Department of Public Safety at Houses of Worship Symposium in that many of the faith leaders were there and we talked about these security issues and and during those that time we talked about how it's so important as chiefs have been mentioned to have these partnerships to make sure not just between law enforcement but with community community faith leaders who are just our our greatest resource frankly in helping to fight um some of these issues and to make sure we're monitoring these threats and and appropriately responding to them any other questions can you give us any more information on the sea sand that you guys found do we know if any of that was a local threat to anybody in the community and did you know that going in at all that that was going to be found the details of that are are not yet public and so and this is again very early we're in the very early stages of this federal process and so as more information becomes available as that where it is appropriate to share we will we will share those but at this time though none of that is public information last call well thank you we appreciate it thank you for coming thank you