Idaho authorities say they have arrested a Boise woman in connection with a failed arson attack on a Meridian building that houses offices of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to RedState, 43-year-old Sarah Elizabeth George is accused of stealing an ambulance, loading it with gasoline cans, ramming it into the North Portico building, dousing the lobby floor with fuel, and then fleeing the scene before she could ignite the accelerant. The incident occurred late on the night of February 18, and Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea credited five days of good old-fashioned police work with leading investigators to the suspect.
Federal prosecutors now allege that George faces two serious counts: malicious destruction of government property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in or affecting interstate commerce, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. Each charge carries a potential sentence ranging from five to 20 years in federal prison, underscoring how close this incident came to becoming a mass-casualty event.
RedStates Bob Hoge previously detailed the crime before George was identified and taken into custody. At the time, the attacker was described as having stolen an ambulance in Meridian, packed it with gasoline cans, and driven it into a DHS facility in what authorities now say was an apparent attempt at large-scale arson.
The plan would have been successful if hed managed to ignite the accelerant, which he had also poured around the vehicle, but he was not able to before law enforcement scared him away, Hoge reported, noting the suspect was seen in a black shirt, tan pants, and a medical-style mask. It remains unclear why George allegedly abandoned the final step of the plot and fled on foot, but investigators and commentators alike have emphasized that the scheme was pretty sinister and could have produced a large-scale disaster with many victims had it been fully executed.
As investigators dug into Georges background, they reportedly uncovered a disturbing social media trail that may point to ideological motives. Authorities say they found a post allegedly made by George on the morning of the attack featuring an AI-generated image of the White House engulfed in flames, accompanied by the caption, If it can be destroyed by truth then it should be destroyed; it was built in lies anyways.
Independent journalist Katie Daviscourt, posting on X, provided a detailed timeline of the February 18 events and shared multiple images of the suspect, who appears to be associated with trans activism based on her online presence. While there is currently no direct evidence that George herself identifies as transgender, her social media pages are reportedly saturated with rainbow flag imagery, a symbol frequently used by progressive activist circles.
According to an FBI affidavit, George allegedly began her crime spree by stealing an ambulance parked outside St. Luke Hospital in Canyon County on February 18. George then made a brief stop and loaded gas cans into the ambulance, which were stashed in bushes, the affidavit states, describing a level of premeditation that goes well beyond a spontaneous act.
The same affidavit includes screenshots from Georges Facebook account, reinforcing concerns about a potential political or ideological motive. On the morning of the attack, George shared a photo of the White House engulfed in flames, showing a possible motive, investigators noted, tying the online rhetoric to the real-world attempt to torch a federal facility.
Law enforcement officials say they relied heavily on area surveillance footage to piece together the case. Cameras reportedly captured George purchasing gasoline cans at a local Walmart, filling them at a Fred Meyer gas station, and then leaving the Walmart in the same vehicle later seen near the ambulance carjacking.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation remains active and that additional charges may still be forthcoming as more evidence is analyzed. For now, the case raises serious questions about politically charged extremism, the role of online radicalization, and why a suspect with apparent ties to left-leaning activist imagery allegedly targeted a federal building in a plot that, but for a last-minute retreat, might have ended in tragedy.
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