Former Navy SEAL convicted for trying to harm police with explosives during California 'No Kings' protests

A erstwhile U.S. Navy SEAL was convicted by a national assemblage connected Friday of transporting explosives with the intent to harm instrumentality enforcement officers during planned "No Kings Day" protests successful California, prosecutors announced.

The Department of Justice said Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was convicted of proscription of explosives with intent to kill, injure oregon intimidate and attempted proscription of prohibited fireworks into California aft a five-day assemblage proceedings and astir 3 hours of deliberation.

Prosecutors said Vandenberg was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to be the "No Kings Day" protests successful June 2025 erstwhile helium stopped successful New Mexico to acquisition six ample mortar fireworks. 

"During this visit, helium told the store clerk that helium intended to propulsion fireworks astatine constabulary officers astatine the upcoming protests. He asked elaborate questions astir the magnitude of gunpowder successful the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their quality to harm others," the DOJ said.

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Courtroom sketch shows the sentencing signifier for the erstwhile Navy SEAL convicted successful the No Kings protestation plot. (United States Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico)

Store employees became alarmed aft Vandenberg repeatedly spoke astir throwing fireworks astatine constabulary and asked whether the store was going to way him, prompting them to grounds his licence sheet and interaction instrumentality enforcement.

He was arrested successful Arizona wherever national agents discovered covering displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist symbols, including a t-shirt with an representation of the Al-Qaeda flag.

A reappraisal of his telephone besides uncovered messages indicating Vandenberg harbored choler toward the U.S. government, including President Donald Trump, driven by his content that the authorities was controlled by Israel and Jews.

Federal agents basal by grounds aft a assemblage recovered the ex-SEAL blameworthy of trying to harm instrumentality enforcement with explosives. (United States Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico)

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"People successful this state are escaped to clasp their ain beliefs and to explicit them peacefully," said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. "What they are not escaped to bash is usage explosives to endanger oregon terrorize others. Vandenberg intended to crook explosives into a instrumentality of intimidation, and this verdict sends the connection that attempts to substitute unit for expressing one’s sentiment has nary spot successful our communities and volition beryllium met with national consequences."

Law enforcement officials astatine the No Kings protestation uncover explosive materials linked to the erstwhile Navy SEAL suspect. (United States Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico)

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The DOJ said the tribunal ordered that Vandenberg stay successful custody pending sentencing pursuing the verdict, which hasn’t yet been scheduled. 

He faces 10 years successful prison.