A federal grand jury indicted nine suspected North Texas “antifa cell” operatives in connection with the July 4 attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Alvarado, the Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson said in a news release Friday.
Seven others were “charged by information” with offenses ranging from using weapons and explosives to attempted murder.
On July 4, Alvarado police officers were dispatched to the detention center in the 1200 block of Sunflower Lane around 10:56 p.m. after reports of a suspicious person, The News previously reported.
According to the release, multiple masked individuals dressed in black, some armed, vandalized security cameras and vehicles in the Prairieland ICE Detention Center parking lot.
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When an Alvarado police officer attempted to engage, an unknown number of individuals opened fire, hitting the officer in the neck. The officer survived, and his body camera footage was later used in court.
Over 50 weapons were seized from the group, the release said.
The attack followed a small peaceful protest that happened at the center earlier the same day, The News previously reported.
The nine individuals indicted Thursday are charged with the following:
RiotProviding materials to terroristsConspiracy to use and carry an explosive and using and carrying an explosiveAttempted murder of an officerDischarging a firearm during a violent crimeCorruptly concealing a documentConspiracy to conceal a document
The defendants are set for arraignment in front of a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Texas on Dec. 3, the release said.
The DFW Support Committee did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from The News Friday night.