Thaindian News

March 30, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): This may be considered as a new chapter in religion related crime. Nine members of self pro claimed Christian warrior group allegedly plotted to kill police officers, were indicted in Detroit on Monday on conspiracy and weapons charges. Seven men and one woman believed to be part of this Michigan-based Hutaree were arrested over the weekend in raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and another was still being sought.

This anti-government group known as Hutaree posted its military exercises on the internet and planned a violent act to get the attention of the police. The group says on its Web site its name means “Christian warrior” and describes the word as part of a secret language that few are privileged to know. The group quotes several Bible passages and declares: “We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. … Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.”

Federal agents said the small group of extremists had hoped to trigger a military clash with the government, but did not suggest they were part of any larger movement. Though the Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama nonprofit that tracks extremism sees this as an explosion of new extremist groups and activism across the nation.In recent months, Hutaree members had conducted military exercises with live ammunition and allegedly tried to obtain materials for bombs that could be used as “weapons of mass destruction.” The group also had discussed carrying out an attack in April, authorities said.

Among those indicted along with Stone, 45, were his wife, Tina, 44 — both of Clayton, Mich. — and two sons, Joshua, 21, and David Jr., 19, of Adrian, Mich.

The wife of one of the defendants described Hutaree as a small group of patriotic, Christian buddies who were just doing survival training.