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Phoenix Man Sentenced for Church Bomb Plot Hate Crime

11/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Zimnako Salah, a Phoenix resident and Iraqi native, was sentenced to six years in prison for planning to bomb Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado.
In late 2023, he placed backpacks in two churches, prompting evacuations.
Evidence included propane canisters and extremist propaganda found in a storage unit linked to him.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant described the acts as a hate crime and stressed the threat to religious communities.

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Story summary

Zimnako Salah, a Phoenix resident and Iraqi native, was sentenced to six years in prison for planning to bomb Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado.
In late 2023, he placed backpacks in two churches, prompting evacuations.
Evidence included propane canisters and extremist propaganda found in a storage unit linked to him.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant described the acts as a hate crime and stressed the threat to religious communities.