A Pittsburgh couple indicted on federal charges for allegedly disrupting a talk by Michael Knowles may have ties to “a group of anarchist extremists,” according to an application for a search warrant of their property.
Special Agent Grant Polson of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force submitted the application, which suggests a link between Brian and Krystal DiPippa of Pittsburgh and the extremist group.
Journalist Andy Ngo shared the warrant application on Twitter:
According to the application, surveillance of a local bookstore where “anarchist extremists meet on Thursday evenings” led to the identification of Brian DiPippa, who was allegedly seen leaving the bookstore on a Thursday days before the Knowles event.
The bookstore bills itself as “an anarchist collective that provides space for exploring radical ideas and putting them into action.” The collective “practices anticapitalist, nonbinary, antioppressive, and intersectional values and promote[s] them through books, events, and conversations.”
The application lays out the DiPippas’ alleged criminal conduct that formed the basis for the warrant application: Brian DiPippa, accompanied by Krystal DiPippa, ignited a smoke bomb and “roll[ed] it under a police barricade” before igniting another and tossing it “toward officers and the speaking event attendees.”
According to the application, Brian DiPippa, with Krystal DiPippa shielding him, then ignited an explosive device, which Brian DiPippa then tossed into a group of “approximately twelve (12) officers,” causing injuries (picture above):
The device struck one officer, fell to the ground and then exploded into flames and debris. The flames and debris can be viewed on camera launching approximately three to four stories into the air and outwards into a crowd of people. As a result of the explosion, multiple police officers sustained injuries, to include burns, bruises, hearing loss, and possible concussions.
Knowles, commenting on Ngo’s post, expressed his surprise at the revelations, noting he was previously unaware of the extent of efforts to disrupt his talk:
Brian and Krystal DiPippa have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. Brian DiPippa has also been indicted on a charge of using an explosive to commit a federal felony.
The conspiracy and obstruction charge each carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The use of explosives charge carries a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and ten years imprisonment for a first offense or 20 years imprisonment for a subsequent offense.
Counsel for Brian DiPippa declined to comment.
The warrant application:
The indictment:
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