Two men accused of attacking an ICE facility in Texas on July 4 have become the first individuals connected to Antifa to face terrorism-related charges.
The indictment against Cameron Arnold and Zachary Evetts was issued on Wednesday and unsealed on Thursday. According to Fox News, the pair face charges including providing material support for terrorism, attempting to murder federal officers, and discharging firearms during attempted murders.
“For the first time ever, the FBI has arrested anarchist violent extremists and charged these Antifa-aligned individuals with material support to terrorism,” announced FBI Director Kash Patel.
“This was a planned and coordinated terrorist attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where armed extremists tried to murder U.S. officers on July 4th,” Patel continued. “We are executing under President Trump’s new authorities at record speed. To date, the FBI has made over 20 arrests tied to this case and related Antifa networks. No one gets to harm law enforcement. Not on our watch.”
According to the indictment, Arnold and Evetts, along with nine others, allegedly participated in the attack using fireworks as a distraction to vandalize vehicles.
“Seconds later, coconspirator-1 [Arnold] opened fire on the officers, striking the Alvarado officer in the neck area as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover. The wounded officer fell to the ground but was able to return a few shots. Coconspirator-1 continued to fire additional rounds until his rifle jammed. The attackers then left the scene,” the indictment stated.
President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order classifying Antifa as a terrorist organization. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted on X that Trump has made it clear that “Antifa is a left-wing terrorist organization” and that “They will be prosecuted as such.”
