ROSEVILLE, Calif. — An Arizona resident was recently charged with leaving a fake bomb in a Roseville church on Nov. 12, 2023.
U.S. prosecutors say 44-year-old Zimnako Salah of Phoenix tied a backpack to a toilet inside the unnamed Roseville church, intending to show the backpack had a bomb.
Church employees told federal officials they called 911 upon discovering the backpack and felt the need to evacuate high school and special needs students from nearby classrooms.
Employees said they initially though a backpack might have been left behind from a youth campout the previous day, but once they saw the backpack was tied to the toilet, they were concerned.
A church volunteer said the situation was mitigated when he took the backpack and threw it in the dumpster after discovering only a pillow inside.
According to court documents, Salah is also accused of leaving backpacks inside an Arizona church and attempted to do the same at a La Mesa church and a Colorado church.
He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
