The FBI has arrested five people who are accused of conspiring to use explosives on a bridge in Brecksville in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The FBI said in a press release the public was not in danger, and an undercover FBI employee had controlled the explosive devices. In addition, the explosives were inoperable.
The arrests were made Monday night by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, an FBI press release said.
Arrested were: Douglas L. Wright, 26, Brandon L. Baxter, 20, and Anthony Hayne, 35. The three are being charged with conspiracy and attempted use of explosive materials to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce.
Connor C. Stevens, 20, and Joshua S. Stafford, 23, also were arrested. Charges are pending.
The men had been monitored by local law enforcement before the arrests. A criminal complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Cleveland this morning. The men will appear before a federal magistrate in U.S. District court today.
The defendants considered a variety of plots in the Cleveland area before settling on the state Route 82 bridge from Brecksville to Sagamore Hills in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the release said. For more details on the five locations they targeted, see The Plain Dealer's coverage.
The three who are charged with conspiracy are self-proclaimed anarchists.
More coverage on Patch:
See: Men Arrested in Bridge Bombing Plot Have Ties to Lakewood, Occupy Cleveland
You see, this isn't about whether or not I agree or even like Occupy Cleveland, in fact, I find it annoying but they have a right to assemble and protest whatever they want. The problem I have is most of you posting on here have ZERO proof that the group condones violence, but you get on here and continue to spread lies. I believe these 5 men and any others who try and blow up bridges or put citzens in danger should be tried in a court of law and sent away for a very long time. I don't even know anyone associated with Occupy Cleveland. These 5 obviously don't give Occupy Cleveland a good name and if there association with the group is more than just attendees than the FBI should look at this group. The problem when people assemble to protest is that your going to get people who have their own agenda and these 5 fall into that category.