Details emerge in mosque-attack plot

WICHITA, Kan. — Three men accused of conspiring to bomb a Kansas mosque and an apartment complex housing Somali refugees also discussed killing the refugees’ white landlord because he rented to Muslims, according to court filings.

Details of the alleged plot emerged in government filings in advance of a detention hearing Wednesday for Gavin Wright. His attorney has argued that Wright was unaware his co-defendants intended to actually carry out the attack.

Prosecutors countered with court filings that include transcripts of profanity-laced recordings of Wright.

Prosecutors say the defense mischaracterizes the danger Wright presents if freed before trial, citing a meeting in August 2016 in which an apartment complex in Garden City was picked as a target. One member was wearing a wire as part of a federal investigation into the group.

During that meeting, Wright suggested that they kill the landlord who owned the complex to send a message, according to a recording. “Any of you people rent to these [people], we’re going to start knocking you all off,” he said.

Wright and co-defendants Patrick Stein and Curtis Allen have pleaded innocent to charges of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy against civil rights in an attack planned for the day after the November 2016 election.