The Brief
Police arrested 17-year-old Evan Banda for a string of local arsons and terroristic threats linked to an overseas extremist hate organization.
The suspect allegedly recorded videos of himself in a hockey mask and Nazi regalia threatening mass violence at several North Texas schools.
Banda remains in custody on a $1.9 million bond while investigators determine if he will face additional federal charges for his actions.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Fort Worth police and the public became extremely concerned about threats circulating on social media earlier last week.
One video included a man in a hockey mask in front of a Nazi flag, saying he was going to cause mass violence. The videos also said they were going to target multiple North Texas schools.
Teen arrested
What we know
A school mentioned was Crowley Middle School, just around the corner from where 17-year-old Evan Banda lives.
17-year-old Evan Banda was arrested on Jan. 8 and charged with multiple counts of arson. He is now being charged with more after being linked to an extremist hate organization. The Fort Worth Police Department has determined Banda is responsible for several threatening videos that circulated on social media last week.
A string of holiday arsons
Dig deeper
The terrorism charges came just days after Banda’s arrest in a string of arsons. Police believe Banda set five cars on fire in his neighborhood near Fox Run Park between Christmas and New Year’s. Each car was less than a mile and a half from the suspect’s house.
The 17-year-old was arrested on Jan. 8, when tactical vehicles swarmed a street in South Fort Worth.
SWAT and police surrounded Banda’s home as neighbors were getting ready for school and work.
From arson to extremist threats
What they’re saying
“We immediately began looking into this video and determined it was likely produced overseas by an extremist hate organization,” said Sgt. Paul Vega with the Fort Worth Police Department.
Fort Worth police say that the hate organization used footage of Crowley Middle School in the video threatening mass violence.
Video the department now says was recorded by 17-year-old Evan Banda.
“In coordination with Fort Worth fire arson detectives, we found that there was a link between the videos threatening mass violence, as well as some videos such as the arson that occurred in South Fort Worth,” said Vega.
Evidence and additional charges
Court documents revealed once in custody, Banda showed investigators videos of himself lighting the fires in the middle of the night.
Evidence from his cell phone and further interviews led Fort Worth police to broaden their investigation. Fort Worth police did not expand on exactly what that evidence was.
“They found that Banda acted in support of those extremist ideologies, and he was ultimately arrested for terroristic threat and terrorism,” said Vega. “We are going to look into these threats and investigate to the fullest and take action when action is necessary.”
What’s next
Fort Worth police say additionally some evidence was found to charge Banda with possession of child pornography. Police do not believe Banda was working with anyone else locally, but they do believe more charges are coming for Banda.
Federal charges are also possible as his bond is set at $1.9 million.
The Source
Information from this article came from Fort Worth police and previous FOX 4 reporting.