Federal authorities released new images of the suspect accused of throwing Molotov cocktails into a downtown federal building in Los Angeles on Monday identifying him as 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel.

Jovel a Los Angeles resident who allegedly carried out an attack law enforcement believes was motivated by anti-immigration enforcement sentiment is expected to make an initial federal court appearance Wednesday afternoon. He faces a charge of attempted malicious damage of federal property according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued a strong statement about political rhetoric.

“This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.”

The Attorney’s Office provided details about what Jovel said during his arrest.

“During his arrest, Jovel said he was motivated by his anger at the federal government of its immigration policies and actions. Jovel described his actions as ‘a terrorist attack’ and said to the officers, ‘you’re separating families’ – a remark commonly made by opponents of current United States government immigration policies. He then yelled for people to ‘start shooting these,’ referring to the officers.”

One image released by authorities allegedly shows Jovel on the steps of the building while another allegedly shows incendiary devices. The suspect attempted to detonate the devices but they did not ignite investigators said.

If convicted Jovel would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison federal authorities said.

Authorities said that before Jovel went to the federal building Monday morning he intentionally lit his rented apartment on fire. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded and an arson investigator determined an accelerant was used in that fire.

The federal building in downtown Los Angeles houses the U.S. Attorney’s office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement among other agencies and is where the processing of many illegal immigrants takes place.

The suspect was accused of throwing one of the Molotov cocktails into a door marked as an employee entrance investigators said. The incendiary device broke into pieces had charring on it and was believed to be lit on fire. The suspect then allegedly threw a second Molotov cocktail through a separate public door where people were lining up to go through security.

Akil Davis the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office issued his own statement.

“There can be zero tolerance for any targeting of law enforcement officials – let alone violent acts – and we’re lucky that the devices allegedly thrown by the subject did not physically injure anyone. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is dedicated to investigating and holding accountable anyone who conducts targeted attacks against government employees.”

Jovel’s admission that this was a terrorist attack removes any ambiguity about his intentions. He wanted to kill federal employees because he disagreed with immigration enforcement policy.

His use of the phrase you’re separating families shows he was parroting talking points used by Democratic politicians and activists. This exact language has been weaponized against ICE for years by those who oppose border enforcement.

His call for people to start shooting officers represents incitement to violence against law enforcement. He was trying to spark a broader attack on federal agents doing their jobs.

The fact that he set his own apartment on fire before the attack shows premeditation and planning. This was not a spontaneous act but a calculated terrorist operation.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Essayli directly blaming irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists for causing violence represents a significant statement. Federal prosecutors rarely call out political figures so explicitly.

The target was a building where illegal immigrants are processed showing Jovel wanted to disrupt deportation operations. He believed violence could stop the Trump administration’s enforcement efforts.

The devices failing to ignite prevented what could have been mass casualties. People were lined up at security when he threw the second Molotov cocktail through the door.

Los Angeles has been a hotbed of anti-ICE protests with local politicians encouraging resistance to federal immigration enforcement. This violent attack represents the inevitable escalation of that rhetoric.

The mandatory minimum five-year sentence means Jovel will face significant prison time if convicted. The maximum of 20 years reflects the seriousness of attempting to bomb a federal building.