William Celli. (Facebook)
A 55-year-old Donald Trump supporter from California was arrested Sunday after police said they discovered he was making explosive devices in his home as part of a plot to blow up Muslims.
William Celli was taken into custody after police searched his home in Richmond, CBS San Francisco reports.
Celli has made posts on his Facebook page in support of Trump, the Republican frontrunner for president. His posts also include anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rants.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Police Evacuated Celli’s Neighborhood & Detonated a ‘Suspicious Device’
Police said William Celli’s McBryde Avenue neighborhood was evacuated and they removed a device from Cellis home. The device was detonated by the Walnut Creek bomb squad, the San Jose Mercury-News reports.
“It is undetermined if the detonated device was inert or active at this time,” Richmond Police Lieutenant Felix Tan said
Residents were asked to leave their homes at about 2 p.m., and the device was detonated around 6 p.m. No one was injured. Celli was booked into the Contra Costa County jail. The specific charges against him were not immediately available.
Celli allegedly threatened to attack Muslims, but police would not elaborate on the threats.
2. Celli Is Originally From Connecticut & Runs a Plumbing Company
William Celli was arrested Sunday. (Facebook)
Celli is originally from Wethersfield, Connecticut, according to his Facebook page. He has been married to his wife since 1986 and has a daughter.
According to his Facebook page, CElli is the owner and manager of Canyon Plumbing Company. The company is based out of his Richmond home.
3. He Said He Would Follow Trump ‘To the End of the World’
(Facebook)
In an October Facebook post, Celli wrote, “Donald trumps on again I’m happy leaders okay but this guys a great point man I’ll follow this MAN to the end of the world.”
Celli also wrote Facebook posts critical of President Obama and California Governor Jerry Brown.
Trump controversially said earlier this month that all Muslims should be stopped from entering the United States after the terror attack in San Bernardino, California.
Two Boston brothers, Scott and Steve Leader, referenced Trump’s comments about Hispanics after they allegedly beat and urinated on a homeless Latino man in August, the Boston Globe reported.
Scott Leader allegedly said, “Donald Trump was right; all these illegals need to be deported,” the Globe reported.
Trump initially seemed to defend the men, saying “I will say that people who are following me are very passionate,” Trump said. “They love this country and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate,” according to Raw Story. He later called the attack “terrible.”
4. He Also Posted About Losing His Business to ‘Hispanics Coming to My Country Under False Pretenses’
(Facebook)
In another Facebook post, written in June 2014, Celli attacked undocumented immigrants.
He wrote, “…I’m very unhappy to report we are getting invaded by tens of thoudands (sic) of illegals I have lost 30%of my business to to Hispanics coming to my country under false pretenses an and freeload in construction or in the blue collar sector they need to go back home lets not talk about the welfare they suck dry.”
5. There Has Been an Increase in Islamophobic Incidents Since the San Bernardino & Paris Terror Attacks
The FBI and others have noted an increase in Islamophobic incidents in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino.
A San Francisco area woman, Denise Slader, was arrested after allegedly attacking a group of Muslims, both verbally and physically, while they were praying in a park. Also in California, a 23-year-old man, Carl Dial Jr., was accused of firebombing a mosque in Coachella. No one was injured in that attack.
