A Colorado resident and a self-avowed Ne-Nazi and white supremacist, Richard Holzer pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes and plotting to blow up a synagogue. according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In his plea agreement, Holzer admitted to law enforcement authorities that he was planning to destroy the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado with explosives.
Holzer used his accounts on social media platforms to promote white supremacist ideology and propaganda as well as acts of violence.
Temple Emanuel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On one occasion, Holzer visited the synagogue and observed Jewish congregants as part of his planning process.
“The defendant attempted to bomb the Temple Emanuel synagogue to drive people of Jewish faith out of his community,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
Holzer shared his violent plans against Jews to undercover FBI agents
In addition, Holzer spoke with undercover FBI agents where he expressed hatred for Jews and posed the idea of using explosives to blow up the synagogue. He has been quoted saying that he wanted to “get that place off the map.”
