An Alabama couple planted a fake bomb at an elementary school hoping to shoot officers arriving at the scene, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Zachary Edwards, 35, claims he wanted to start a race war with the explosives device planted outside of a Trussville elementary school.
Zachary Edwards and Raphel Dilligard, aged 34, of Birmingham face charges that include making terrorist threats, rendering a false alarm and possessing a hoax destructive device, said police Capt. Jeff Bridges of Trussville, Alabama.
“My guys believe this individual to be a very dangerous person,” said Dave Hyche, ATF’s assistant special agent in charge in Alabama.
A hoax bomb was found outside Magnolia Elementary School on Nov. 16, prompting a response that included agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“It looked real enough that it concerned us,” Bridges said in an interview.
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Edwards admitted to planting the device, and said his plan was to get all police officers and first-responders in one place so he could shoot them. “I guess he doesn’t like cops,” Bridges said.
“He wanted everybody in one place so he could kill cops,” Hyche said. “He made it clear to our guys he wanted to commit acts of violence. This arrest probably did stop something bad from happening.”
Edwards has a lengthy criminal record, including a 2000 conviction for second-degree assault.
Featured Image: Trussville Police
