MADISON, WIS. – A Madison, Wisconsin man was arrested at the moment on a cost associated to the Might 2022 firebombing of a Madison workplace constructing.
Based on court docket paperwork, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, is charged with one rely of making an attempt to trigger harm via fireplace or an explosive. Roychowdhury was arrested earlier at the moment in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Based on the grievance, Mr. Roychowdhury used an incendiary machine in violation of federal legislation in connection along with his efforts to terrorize and intimidate a personal group,” mentioned Assistant Lawyer Basic Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Division’s Nationwide Safety Division. “I commend the dedication and professionalism of legislation enforcement personnel who labored exhaustively to make sure that justice is served.”
“This group of native and federal legislation enforcement officers has labored, with the federal prosecutors, diligently and creatively to maneuver the investigation ahead,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin. “This case is an instance of the outcomes legislation enforcement can obtain when native and federal legislation investigators work as a workforce.”
Madison Police Chief Shon F. Barnes mentioned, “For months, our detectives remained dedicated to discovering these chargeable for this arson. When ideas and leads have been restricted, they by no means gave up. Their persistence is proof that hateful acts wouldn’t have a spot in Madison. I applaud their work and need to thank our federal companions for all of their assist main as much as this arrest.”
“I’m very pleased with the tireless and decided efforts the mixed federal, state and native workforce put in to determine and arrest this particular person,” mentioned ATF Particular Agent in Cost William McCrary of the St. Paul Discipline Division. “I can guarantee you, our ATF Licensed Fireplace Investigator invested lengthy hours into this case. It is vitally satisfying to me to see that this alleged perpetrator has been positioned in custody.”
“The FBI conducts investigations when somebody crosses the road from expression of protected private beliefs to violations of federal legislation,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost Michael E. Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Discipline Workplace. “We remained vigilant throughout this investigation and labored with our legislation enforcement companions to methodically and totally handle each side of this act of violence. The arrest at the moment represents these efforts and highlights the work accomplished by legislation enforcement to guard the security of our residents.”
Based on the grievance, on Mom’s Day, Sunday, Might 8, 2022, at roughly 6:06 a.m., legislation enforcement responded to an energetic fireplace at an workplace constructing positioned in Madison, Wisconsin. As soon as contained in the constructing, police noticed a mason jar beneath a damaged window; the jar was damaged, and the lid and screw high have been burned black. The police additionally noticed a purple disposable lighter close to the mason jar. On the alternative wall from the window, the police noticed one other mason jar with the lid on and a blue material tucked into the highest; the fabric was singed. The jar was about half stuffed with a transparent fluid that smelled like an accelerant. Outdoors of the constructing, somebody spray painted on one wall, “If abortions aren’t protected you then aren’t both” and, on one other wall, a big “A” with a circle round it and the quantity “1312.” Through the investigation, legislation enforcement collected DNA from the scene of the assault.
In March 2023, legislation enforcement recognized Roychowdhury as a doable suspect. Native law enforcement officials noticed Roychowdhury get rid of meals in a public trash can; the officers recovered the leftover meals and associated objects, and legislation enforcement collected DNA from the meals. On March 17, 2023, legislation enforcement suggested {that a} forensic biologist examined the DNA proof recovered from the assault scene and in contrast it to the DNA collected from the meals contents. The forensic biologist discovered the 2 samples matched and sure have been the identical particular person.
In March 2023, Roychowdhury travelled from Madison, Wisconsin, to Portland, Maine, and he bought a one-way ticket from Boston to Guatemala Metropolis, departing Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023. Legislation enforcement arrested Roychowdhury at Boston Logan Worldwide Airport. Roychowdhury can have a detention listening to in Boston.
Roychowdhury is scheduled to seem in U.S. District Courtroom in Boston at the moment. A date for his look in federal court docket in Madison has not been set.
If convicted, Roychowdhury faces a compulsory minimal penalty of 5 years and a most of 20 years in jail. The cost towards him is the results of an investigation by the Madison Police Division, Wisconsin State Capitol Police Division, ATF, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Job Drive, Homeland Safety Investigations, Dane County Sheriff’s Workplace, with the help of the FBI Boston Discipline Workplace, Boston Police Division, Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Air Marshal Service, and Transportation Safety Administration.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Elizabeth Altman for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Lawyer Justin Sher of the Nationwide Safety Division’s Counterterrorism Part are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Lawyer Amanda Beck for the District of Massachusetts dealt with the looks in Boston.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a court docket of legislation.