—...but there was no danger to the public because the explosives were inoperable and were controlled by an undercover FBI employee...—
Yeah. They learned their lesson with Timothy McVeigh.
“were controlled by an undercover FBI employee...”
Don’t know about this case, but doesn’t it seem that an awful lot of crimes like this turn out to be FBI/BATF/Other agency operatives playing “entrap the stooge” (with each other)?
Based on the limited story, it’s a reasonable guess that the G-Men know the explosives are inoperable because they brought them to the table, something the other “conspirators” were incapable of doing. I read your McViegh comment as apt sarcasm at first, but sadly, it might be the literal truth.