Prosecutors allege Arizona man planned bombing at Jewish or Muslim site

A valley man is behind bars tonight accused of plotting a mass attack on religious sites using guns and bombs, but he was stopped before it happened. Jacob Luthi joins us live with the details tonight. Yeah, Brian, good evening. Matthew Bjornholt is facing one count of making terroristic threats after Maricopa County prosecutors say they recovered firearms and explosive-making instructions at his home. Prosecutors allege Matthew Bjornholt, seen here in his first court appearance Friday, told someone he planned to bomb a Jewish or Muslim site, then unleashed gunfire, allegedly telling that person and accomplice would follow the blasts by, quote, picking off people. Prosecutors say police recovered three firearms from Bjornholt's home, along with a book he reportedly called his Bible, the Anarchist Cookbook, which contains instructions for making explosives. This would provide the means for the defendant to carry out the threat that was made. Bjorn Holtz attorney Chad Shell pushed back, calling the case built on unverified claims from a disgruntled former acquaintance. Shell said the man, whom he described as a homeless alcoholic, had briefly stayed on the defendant's couch before being kicked out. Shell also told the court the FBI searched Bjorn Holtz's home. He says Bjorn Holtz turned over his devices and passwords, but federal investigators found no evidence of terrorism or bomb making and did not file charges. The defense also argues that three seized firearms were legally owned. Where's the evidence that he's a danger to the community? Some hearsay statements from some dude that my client kicked out of his house two days before September 29th. Again, the FBI served a search warrant, got all of his electronic devices. He gave him access, gave him his passwords to those devices. They went through all of those electronic devices. They didn't see anything about terrorism, and the FBI cut them loose. Now the state asked for half a million dollars bond, but the judge set it at $100,000. Bjorn Holt is due back in court next week. Jacob Luthi, Fox 10 News.