Casa Grande Social Security explosion suspect Abdullatif Ali Aldosary set for court

PHOENIX - A man charged with detonating a homemade explosive device outside an Arizona Social Security Administration office was ordered Wednesday to remain held pending a preliminary hearing set for next week.

Authorities say Abdullatif Ali Aldosary, 47, had researched bomb-making materials and gathered chemicals before detonating a small explosive outside the office building in Casa Grande last week. No one was injured in the blast, and authorities say the damage was minimal.

Aldosary is charged with maliciously damaging federal property by means of explosives and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He appeared in shackles Wednesday in federal court in Phoenix, where a judge appointed a public defender and set a preliminary hearing for Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on any aspect of the case, including a potential motive. Aldosary's lawyer also declined to comment, and messages left at Aldosary's home haven't been returned.

According to a criminal complaint, authorities executing a search warrant at Aldosary's home in nearby Coolidge found documents explaining how to build a bomb hidden behind a picture. The papers included explanations of what specific chemicals to use, such as ammonium nitrate, the same type of fertilizer Timothy McVeigh used to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995.

Handwritten notes found in the house read, "Materials Needed," according to the complaint.

Aldosary also sought information on how to create an explosive material known as RDX, "considered one of the most powerful of the military high explosives," the complaint read. "RDX is believed to have been used in many bomb plots, including terrorist plots."

Authorities said they seized a handgun and rifle at the suspect's home, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and several gallons of chemicals that could be used to make a bomb.

They tracked him down after witnesses reported his license plate on a vehicle seen fleeing the site of Friday's blast, according to the complaint.

Aldosary pleaded guilty in 2008 to felony aggravated harassment charges in Maricopa County. He was sentenced to two months in jail and three years of probation, but his probation was revoked a year later and he was ordered to serve a year in prison.

A man charged with detonating a homemade explosive device outside an Arizona Social Security Administration office has been ordered held pending a preliminary hearing.

Authorities say 47-year-old Abdullatif Ali Aldosary had researched bomb-making materials and gathered chemicals before detonating a small explosive outside the office building in Casa Grande last week.

No one was injured in the blast, and authorities say the damage was minimal.

Aldosary is charged with maliciously damaging federal property by means of explosives and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A federal judge in Phoenix has set a preliminary hearing for Tuesday morning.

Aldosary has been assigned a public defender who did not return calls for comment. Messages left at Aldosary's home haven't been returned.

The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to provide more details about the case.