In a resounding victory for justice, 45-year-old Zimnako Salah from Phoenix, Arizona, has been found guilty by a federal jury on multiple charges for orchestrating hoax bomb threats against Christian churches across three states, driven by a deep-seated anti-Christian sentiment.
After an intense 11-day trial, the jury delivered its verdict, confirming that Salah had planted a suspicious backpack at a Christian church in Roseville, California, intending to simulate a bomb threat. This vile act was designed to terrorize peaceful worshippers and disrupt their sacred right to worship freely.
Determining his actions as a clear hate crime, the jury concluded that Salah had specifically targeted the church because of its Christian congregation. From September to November 2023, Salah’s sinister campaign saw him visiting four churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado. At two of these locations, his planted backpacks incited widespread panic, while vigilant security saved the day at the other two.
Chillingly, Salah’s activities were more than mere hoaxes—they were a prelude to a potentially catastrophic event. Evidence presented at the trial revealed Salah’s efforts to construct a real explosive device, with an FBI bomb technician discovering components for an improvised explosive device (IED) in his rented storage unit.
Salah’s radicalization was starkly evident from his social media history, which showed searches for “infidels dying” and videos of ISIS terrorists committing atrocities.
This Department of Justice has no tolerance for anyone who targets religious Americans for their faith,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated emphatically. “The perpetrator of this abhorrent hate crime against Christians will face severe punishment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California reiterated the seriousness of Salah’s actions, underscoring that his intent was to threaten and intimidate the congregation due to his disagreements with their beliefs. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement and the attorneys from my office and our DOJ partners in Washington D.C., our communities are safer with yesterday’s verdict,” Beckwith affirmed. “People of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence.”
Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office praised the collective law enforcement efforts in bringing Salah to justice. “His deliberate targeting of multiple places of worship and calculated efforts to spread panic were intended to terrorize people of faith and disrupt the peace of our communities,” Patel emphasized. “The FBI remains committed to protecting the American people and will continue to work within the confines of the law to hold individuals accountable for acts of terrorism whether those acts are true threats or intended as hoaxes.”
With a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Salah now awaits sentencing on July 18 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins. This outcome underscores the unwavering resolve of American justice to stand up against hate and protect religious freedoms.
