Tomas Mikula is a citizen of the Czech Republic. Last week his East Boston apartment exploded. When police responded to the scene they found a badly burned Mikula, chemicals used to make explosives and PVC pipe, which is commonly used to make bomb casings. Officers then obtained a search warrant, searched Mikula’s apartment, and discovered a rifle, two pistols and 100 rounds of ammunition.
Mikula was subsequently charged with the following criminal offenses:
- Unlawful possession of explosives.
- Unlawful possession of an incendiary device.
- Willful ignition/discharge of a destructive or incendiary device.
- Unlawful possession of a firearm (handgun).
- Unlawful possession of a firearm (rifle).
- Unlawful possession of ammunition.
- Unlawful possession of a high capacity firearm.
He also has an existing criminal record that includes credit card theft, identity theft and firearms charges.
But local officials have already declared that Mikula isn’t a terrorist. According to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Mikula was, “just someone who has some weapons in there and is playing around with chemicals and, you know, some powder, and it looks like that blew up on him.” Just a foreign national tinkering with explosives. Move along folks, nothing to see here.
That’s curious, because in the Bay State, law abiding citizens must apply for a firearms license if they wish to purchase, possess, carry or transport firearms, gun powder, or ammunition. And Massachusetts police officers tend to treat U.S. citizens suspected of even minor firearms offenses the way the KGB handled enemies of the revolution. But a Czech national in a house full of bombs and guns isn’t a terrorist?
It’s also perplexing because the Boston Police informed the FBI and ATF, who responded to Mikula’s apartment. Typically, federal officials are called to dwellings filled with bomb-making equipment when local cops are concerned about terrorism.
So, did the higher-ups in Boston government tell the police to back off of the terrorism angle because Mikula is an immigrant and they’re not going to cooperate with any ICE investigations? That would not be surprising because the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a sanctuary state in all but name.
At present, Mikula’s immigration status is unclear. We don’t know whether he’s an illegal alien, a lawful permanent resident or a naturalized citizen. He does, however, appear to be enough of a flight risk that he was held on $200,000 bail and required to surrender his passport.
Only time will tell whether the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is more concerned about protecting U.S. citizens from terrorism, or protecting the alleged “rights” of foreign criminals to evade deportation.