Man convicted of hate crime - fake bombs in churches

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An Arizona man was found guilty by a federal jury on charges related to fake bomb threats made in 2024.

Following an 11-day trial, 45-year-old Zimanko Salah of Phoenix was convicted on April 3 for placing a backpack around a toilet inside a Christian church in Roseville, California, intending to create the appearance of a bomb threat and to obstruct the congregation’s ability to freely practice their religion, according to a Department of Justice press release.

The jury determined that Salah specifically targeted the churches because of the religious beliefs of the congregants, classifying the offense as a hate crime, the DOJ added.

During the trial, evidence revealed that from September to November 2024, Salah had planted fake bombs in four Christian churches located in California, Colorado, and Arizona. It was also disclosed that while Salah had been planting fake bombs, he was building a real bomb in his storage unit, one capable of fitting into a backpack.

Federal Bureau of Investigation bomb technicians seized the items in the storage unit, and an FBI bomb expert testified that the materials found in Salah's storage unit "served as component parts of an improvised explosive device," confirmed by the DOJ press release.

A search of Salah's social media records showed he had engaged with extremist propaganda. Specifically, Salah had searched for videos of "infidels dying" and depictions of the ISIS terrorist organization murdering people.

According to the DOJ, Salah faces a maximum sentence of 6 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Salah was scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins.