The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department found bomb-making materials and illegal firearms in a U.S. soldier’s home in Sioux Falls after a search on July 17.
Mark Christopher Einerwold had been arrested on burglary charges, prompting the search of his home and vehicle. Police found significant and concerning amounts of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder mixed together, KELO reported.
A jacket was found in his apartment that hinted a possible affiliation with Antifa, a left-wing extremist organization consisting of anarchists, communists and socialists, according to local media reports. When the media questioned Sheriff Mike Milstead
The authorities found numerous copies of a manifesto paper-clipped together. The manifesto was extremely threatening towards government, law enforcement, and the fire department, police at the scene said. Milstead said that the purpose of having numerous copies is currently unknown.
Although numerous news media outlets have reported Mark as being affiliated with Antifa, his social media account was all about his support for the Second Amendment. Local media reported that his Facebook also had a post where he criticized Antifa and social justice warriors. “This is what the social justice looks like. These are the people taking over our campuses. They are militant, they are dangerous,” the post read.
In an interview with Bob Einerwold, Mark’s brother said that Mark is a conservative who is a pro-gun rights advocate that “can’t stand” liberals. When asked about the Antifa jacket, Bob said, “He didn’t wear it out of pride, I can tell you that.”
Bob doesn’t believe that Mark was making bombs with the intention of harming people, “I am positive he was not making bombs. He might have been practicing to make a smoke grenade. He would never make a bomb,” said Bob. “It’ll come out in the trial, all theories are just theories now, like JFK,” Bob said in an interview, according to the Argus Leader.
A mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminium powder is called ammonal or Tannerite. It is generally used as a target in rifle practice because it is more exciting to watch a harmless bang with a puff of smoke than shooting wood or paper.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) classify Tannerite as a binary explosive, meaning that ammonium nitrate and aluminium aren’t independently explosive. To ignite the mix, it would have to be hit with something like a fast-moving bullet.
Einerwold is charged with third-degree burglary, felony intentional damage to property, possession of a controlled weapon, and sale and transportation of a destructive device in Minnehaha County, said Sheriff Captain Jason Gearman. Mark appeared in court on July 18 and is being held on a $275,000 cash bond with the condition of no weapons.
He has also been charged in the neighbouring Lincoln County with third-degree burglary, intentional damage to property, and possession of weapon or tools with intent to commit burglary.
From The Epoch Times
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