Image from federal search warrant
A newly filed federal search warrant against a self-described anarchist accused of attempting to set off an incendiary device at local Fox news station in Utah provides a window into an ongoing investigation into whether he planned the attack with others.
Christopher Proctor was charged in federal court last month with attempted arson and possessing an unregistered destructive device. According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning of September 12, Proctor placed a “plastic gas can with a lit multi-foot-long fuse, underneath the driver’s side rear bumper of a news truck” of KSTU Fox 13. The fuse “self-terminated” before entering the gas can.
Authorities say DNA recovered on the gas can matched with Proctor. According to court documents, records received from Proctor’s Amazon account revealed purchases of black tactical gear and a fuse. On September 20, authorities searched Proctor’s residence finding items that matched closely with the attire worn by the would-be arsonist.
While the criminal complaint did not indicate a motivation to the attack, a search warrant filed this week in Utah federal court provides additional context. According to the FBI, Proctor told a family member two days before purchasing the items that “honestly, I just want to burn it all down. If there were riots nationwide starting today, I’d join. I’m an anarchist to the bone.”
Five days prior to the attempted arson, Proctor, who is a singer in a local band, was interviewed by a Utah based music magazine and stated on the podcast that, his “latest album is about “the destruction of the world, the country” and that his band was “very political, we’re very woke, we’re woke as fuck…there’s got to be a revolution starting somewhere.”
The search warrant, which previously hasn’t been reported on, describes Proctor communicating with an unnamed individual two days prior to the attack stating, “If you really wanna do this with me, I am 1000% serious and planning in doing recon stuff, and I definitely need help if you’re willing.”
The affidavit states Proctor told a friend that he committed the attempted arson. It also notes that Proctor received a new fuse in the mail a week after the first attempt and his vehicle was seen driving past Fox 13’s building multiple times that week.
An attorney for Proctor did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah is not responding to media inquiries due to the lapse of federal appropriations.
Proctor was arrested on September 29th and ordered detained pending trial.