Las Vegas Man Arrested for Plotting Bombing of LGBTQ+ Bar

Yikes! A neo-nazi from Las Vegas has been arrested for possessing parts to make a bomb after allegedly wanting to attack Jews and patrons at an LGBTQ+ bar.

According to federal officials, Connor Climo, 23, who worked as a security guard, allegedly sent encrypted messages to white supremacists discussing an attack using Molotov cocktails and other explosives.

Climo was "communicating with individuals who identified with a white supremacist extremist organization who were members of the National Socialist Movement to promote their ideology," according to the FBI. "Members believe in the superiority of the white race and have a common goal of challenging the established laws, social order, and government via terrorism and other violent acts. The organization encourages attacks on the federal government, including critical infrastructure, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community."

According to prosecutors, Climo tried to recruit a homeless person for "pre-attack surveillance" at a synagogue and wanted to target patrons at an LGBTQ+ bar on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

"Threats of violence motivated by hate and intended to intimidate or coerce our faith-based and LGBTQ+ communities have no place in this country," Nicholas A. Trutanich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada, said in a statement. "Law enforcement in Nevada remains determined to use the full weight of our investigative resources to prevent bias-motivated violence before it happens. I commend our partners who identified the threat and took swift and appropriate action to ensure justice and protect the community."

FBI agents said that Climo told them he had obtained the bomb making materials and that he wanted to organize an eight-man sniper platoon to shoot Jewish people either at a Las Vegas synagogue or a different location.

Bomb-making components and chemical compounds were found in Climo's bedroom by an FBI bomb technician according to charging documents.

Gov. Steve Sisolak, Democrat, took to Twitter to thank the U.S. attorney's office as well as the FBI.

If Climo is convicted he will face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 23.

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