Multiple Arrests Made In Domestic Militia Terror Plot

The militia movement never really went away, but it's gained momentum since the election of President Barack Obama. These groups talk of the violent overthrow of the US government and are frequently heavily armed, which makes executing arrests all the more dangerous.



Law enforcement caught wind of one such plot in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio involving a group calling itself Hutaree (sometimes referred to as Hutare), a Christian militia that is preparing for the coming battle with the Antichrist, and arrested eight people over the weekend.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said agents moved on the group because the Hutaree members were planning a violent reconaissance mission sometime in April -- just a few days away.

Members of the group called Hutaree are charged in the case, including their leader, David Brian Stone, also known as ''Captain Hutaree.''

Once other officers gathered for a slain officer's funeral, the group planned to detonate homemade bombs at the funeral, killing more, according to newly unsealed court papers.

According to the indictment, the idea of attacking a police funeral was one of numerous scenarios discussed as ways to go after law enforcement officers. Other scenarios included a fake 911 call to lure an officer to his or her death, or an attack on the family of a police officer.

After such attacks, the group allegedly planned to retreat to ''rally points'' protected by trip-wired improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, for what they expected would become a violent standoff with law enforcement personnel.

''It is believed by the Hutaree that this engagement would then serve as a catalyst for a more wide-s[p]read uprising against the government,'' the indictment charges.

It includes charges of seditious conspiracy, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, teaching the use of explosives, and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction -- homemade bombs.

The indictment charges members of the group conspired ''to levy war against the United States, (and) to oppose by force the authority of the government of the United States.''

At least one other person is being sought in connection with the raid, Joshua Stone, who was not among those arrested.

A copy of the indictment against the nine in custody can be found here along with the DOJ's statement.

"The general concept of operations provided that the HUTARE would commit some violent act to draw the attention of law enforcement or government officials and which would prompt a response by law enforcement. Possible such acts which were discussed included killing a member of law enforcement after a traffic stop, killing a member of law enforcement and his or her family at home, ambushing a member of law enforcement in rural communities, and killing a member of law enforcement and then attacking the funeral procession motorcade with weapons of mass destruction. These acts would intimidate and demoralize law enforcement diminishing their ranks and rendering them ineffective.

"The general concept of operations further provided that, once such action was taken, HUTAREE members would then retreat to one of several 'rally points' where the HUTAREE would wage war against the government and be prepared to defend in depth with trip-wired and command detonated anti-personnel Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), ambushes, and prepared fighting positions. It is believed by the HUTAREE that this engagement would then serve as a catalyst for a more wide-spread uprising against the Government."