A New Hampshire man is in custody after police say he threatened to kill Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
Tristan Anderson, 22, of Hooksett, is charged with criminal threatening and harm or threats to certain government officials.
The criminal complaint against Anderson released Thursday alleges that he “did knowingly threaten to commit the crime of homicide and/or assault against Gov. Kelly Ayotte for the purpose of influencing such official’s action or in retaliation for action taken as part of such official’s government duties.”
Anderson was allegedly messaging with a woman on Snapchat and said “I’m going to target the NH Mayor Kelly ayott… With my weapon of mass destruction.”
Police didn’t indicate a motive for the threat.
The woman told police that Anderson owned guns, and that he had made mention of making pipe bombs.
Anderson allegedly had shown the woman metal tubes he was using to make the bombs as well as nuts and bolts he was going to put in them, police said.
Police said Anderson had bought fireworks and taken them apart to create the pipe bombs.
Anderson remains in custody without bail pending his next court appearance.
The next scheduled hearing in the case is a dispositional conference later this year.
Ayotte, previously a U.S. senator, defeated Democrat Joyce Craig in the race for governor last year.
