A 22-year-old Utah man has been charged with attempting to commit a hate crime after allegedly threatening to blow up a synagogue.
Skyler AJ Rose of Ogden was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on several charges, including possession of an unregistered destructive device, making threats to kill or injure people and destroy a building with explosives, and attempting to commit a hate crime, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah said.
“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,” US Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah said in a statement. “Thanks to the dedicated work of the FBI and the outstanding efforts of our local police partners, these alleged threats were identified and stopped before anyone was harmed. Let these charges serve as a clear warning: if you attack or attempt to attack a place of worship, you will face the full force of the federal government.”
According to court documents, Rose posted multiple threats on social media on Dec. 23, 2025.
“I wanna blow up a synagogue,” one post allegedly stated, prosecutors said.
Authorities opened an investigation and traced the posts to an IP address associated with Rose’s home.
The FBI asked the Ogden City Police Department to assist. During a visit to the residence, investigators said they confirmed that Rose controlled the social media account linked to the threats.
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A search warrant led investigators to six improvised explosive pipe bombs, an inert device, and explosive precursors and components that officials said could be used to build additional devices. Authorities also seized a black Samsung cellphone, two rifles, magazines and ammunition, prosecutors said.
Investigators later found that Rose’s cellphone had been used to search for a nearby synagogue in November 2025.
“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 in a statement. “The Department of Justice will take decisive action to protect American worshippers from violent threats, no matter where they occur.”
Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, said that no one should fear for their safety because of their religion.
“Every person deserves to worship freely, without threats, intimidation, or fear,” Bohls said. “The FBI takes every threat seriously. Thanks to the swift, seamless collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to address the threat and protect lives from potential physical harm.”
Prosecutors also allege that investigators found child sexual abuse material on Rose’s cellphone, including hundreds of cached images and screenshots. He was separately indicted on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Rose is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Salt Lake City on Oct. 23.
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