A man suspected of detonating bottle bombs in DMV movie theaters was arrested Saturday at his home in Bowie, Maryland.
Manuel Joyner was charged in Maryland and Virginia this weekend on multiple counts relating to manufacturing, possessing, and using explosive devices.
Police say the 20-year-old placed two plastic bottles containing an acid and a base inside the AMC Tyson's Corner 16 in McLean, Virginia on May 18, forcing 2,000 people to evacuate the multiplex at 1 a.m. The reaction between the chemicals will cause an object to explode.
On May 25, Joyner allegedly struck the same theater, as well as the AMC Magic Johnson Capital Center 12 in Largo, Maryland.
A similar device was used in an April 5 explosion at the AMC Hoffman Center 22 in Alexandria, Virginia, but Joyner has not been charged in that incident.
No one was hurt in the bottle bomb attacks.
Joyner was charged with one count of manufacturing, possessing, and detonating an explosive device in Maryland, and three similar counts in Virginia. He is also charged with three counts of arson and three counts of terrorism in the Virginia cases. The felonies carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials searched Joyner's home this weekend, but the results of their search are unknown. The Associated Press spoke with someone at Joyner's residence who claimed no knowledge of the arrest or if the suspect has an attorney.
Prince George's County Fire/EMS officials say with Joyner behind bars, DMV residents can relax a bit.
"Movie theatre patrons around the region can breathe a sigh of relief as a suspect has been identified and arrested for using 'bottle-bombs,' a statement read.
