A 22-year-old Utah man has been charged with multiple federal offenses after allegedly threatening to blow up a synagogue, including an accusation that he attempted to commit a hate crime.
Skyler AJ Rose of Ogden was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. The charges include possessing an unregistered destructive device, threatening to kill or injure people and damage a building with explosives, and attempting to commit a hate crime.
“There is no place for hate motivated violence—attempts or otherwise—in our communities. A place of worship should be a refuge of safety, not fear,” U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak said in a statement. She credited the FBI and local law enforcement with identifying and stopping the alleged threats before anyone was hurt, adding that attacks or attempted attacks on houses of worship would be met with the full force of federal law.
Court documents allege that Rose published several threatening messages on social media on Dec. 23, 2025.
Skyler AJ Rose, 22, is accused of threatening to blow up a synagogue. (Ogden City Police)
One post allegedly stated, “I wanna blow up a synagogue,” prosecutors said.
Authorities traced the posts to an IP address associated with Rose’s home. The FBI contacted the Ogden City Police Department, and officers visited the residence, where investigators said they confirmed Rose was behind the social media account.
During a search of the home, investigators allegedly found six improvised explosive pipe bombs, an inert device, and explosive materials and components that could have been used to build additional devices. Prosecutors also said they recovered a black Samsung cellphone, two rifles, magazines and ammunition.
Skyler AJ Rose allegedly made multiple threatening posts on social media. (FBI)
A later examination of Rose’s cellphone allegedly showed that he had searched online in November 2025 for a synagogue located near him.
“Today’s indictment stops in its tracks an alleged plan to carry out a violent attack on a synagogue,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. She added that the department would act decisively to protect people worshipping in the United States from violent threats.
Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, said no one should fear for their safety because of their religion.
Investigators say a search of Skyler AJ Rose’s cellphone revealed that he searched online for a synagogue near him in November 2025. (FBI)
“Every person deserves to worship freely, without threats, intimidation, or fear,” Bohls said. He emphasized that the FBI treats every threat seriously and said swift coordination with local law enforcement helped protect the public from potential harm.
Prosecutors also allege that investigators discovered child sexual abuse material on Rose’s cellphone, including hundreds of cached images and screenshots. He faces separate federal charges for receiving and possessing child pornography.
Rose is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Salt Lake City on Oct. 23.