IV: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

On 9 January 2025, at approximately 0630 hours local time, the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Fort Lauderdale Police Department responded to a report of a fire in a parking lot on the 5300 block of Northwest 33rd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. At the scene, officers encountered a large fire and a suspect throwing IIDs, described as Molotov cocktails, at mattresses and chairs in the parking lot. According to the police chief, the suspect was killed after officers discharged their weapons when the suspect did not comply with orders to drop the IID.

On 2 January 2025, at approximately 1345 hours local time, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies responded to an apartment building on the 2200 block of Geneva Trail in Lakesite after a man removed a security camera from the porch of an apartment before throwing an IID, described as a Molotov cocktail, at a vehicle outside the apartment. A small fire ignited, which spread to the occupied apartment unit but was extinguished before law enforcement arrived at the scene. A 22-year-old male suspect was identified and located at his own apartment within the same complex.

On 1 January 2025, at approximately 1000 hours local time, a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper pulled over a vehicle after pyrotechnics were thrown at the trooper’s vehicle near North Carl G Rose Highway in Hernando. A 20-year-old male occupant allegedly admitted to throwing the pyrotechnics out of the car and at the trooper’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, FHP troopers discovered a bag of commercial pyrotechnic devices. The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on an officer and throwing a destructive device.

On 11 January 2025, Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) officers arrested a 29-year-old man for unspecified charges and while processing him at the Washington County Detention Center in Jonesborough, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office found an IED among his possessions. The IED was described as a “small, homemade device.” The JCPD Bomb Squad responded to assist and removed the IED from the facility. No additional information on the device was released.

On 25 November 2024, at approximately 0625 hours local time, Brentwood Fire and Rescue crews responded to the 1200 block of Warner Court in Brentwood for a report of smoke coming from a home. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and the remnants of several IIDs, described as Molotov cocktails, were found at the scene. The home sustained extensive damage as a result of the fire, but no injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.