Manhunt Underway in Idaho For Domestic Terrorist Who Tried to Blow Up DHS Office

A manhunt is underway in Idaho for the dangerous individual who tried to blow up a building that houses Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offices in the city of Meridian, Wednesday.

During a press briefing Thursday, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said the suspect stole an ambulance from a bay at St. Luke’s West hospital and drove it through the parking lot to retrieve gas cans that were staged in nearby vegetation.

The alleged domestic terrorist then crashed the ambulance into the North Portico building, where the DHS offices are housed, Basterrechea said.

The facility was recently leased to the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Investigators believe the suspect intended to ignite an accelerant poured inside and around the ambulance in a planned arson attack, but was scared off by first responders and fled on foot. No injuries were reported, and the fire was not ignited.

The suspect is described as wearing a black shirt, tan pants, and a medical-style mask.

“We want to emphasize that this was a serious criminal act,” Basterrechea said. “The theft and destruction of an emergency vehicle not only created a risk to responding personnel, but it also temporarily removed a critical medical resource from the community.”

The Meridian Police Department is leading the investigation in coordination with the FBI, ATF, DHS, and Idaho State Police. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence are being reviewed. No arrests have been made, and the suspect remains at large.

Basterrechea noted “there has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location.”

“Comments on social media, such as ‘property damage isn’t violence,’ is absolutely false,” the chief said. “This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk.”

“Any information that we believe would hinder our investigation will not be released at any time,” Basterrechea added. “We want to make sure that this investigation is as clean as possible and that we bring the people responsible to justice.”