TOLEDO, Ohio - A Toledo woman has been arrested after she purchased materials she believed were going to be used to make a bomb as part of a terrorist attack.
Elizabeth Lecron, 23, was charged in federal court with one count of transportation of explosives and explosive material for the purposes of harming others and property.
According to court filings, Lecron purchased black powder and hundreds of screws which she allegedly planned to use in a terrorist attack on an area bar. She drew the attention of law enforcement after posts on her social media accounts glorifying mass murderers, including the Columbine shooters and Dylann Roof. Lecron and an associate flew to Denver to visit Columbine High School and earlier this year, she began corresponding with Roof and attempted to send him Nazi literature.
Undercover FBI agents began communicating with Lecron in August of this year. She stated she and an associate had devised a plant to commit an "upscale mass murder" at a Toledo bar. She stated she knew the bar only had two ways in or out, which could be a tactical advantage when police arrived. Later that month, Lecron stated she wanted to meet other anarchists in order to form a team. She stated she wanted to damage a livestock farm to set livestock free. She later told agents she couldn't locate a farm and was going to focus on something else.
On December 8, Lecron met with a source at a retail sporting good store, where she purchased two pounds of black powder. She purchased more a large amount of screws at separate retailer in Perrysburg. She was later arrested.
“This defendant bought black powder and hundreds of screws that she expected would be used to make a bomb,” said Justin Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Through her words and actions, she demonstrated that she was committed to seeing death and destruction in order to advance hate. This case demonstrates terrorism comes in many guises and we will remain vigilant to protect all Americans.”