Hutaree, the Christian militia in southeast Michigan reportedly raided by the FBI Sunday, was preparing to battle the Antichrist because “Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment,” according to its Web site.
A Joint Terrorism Task Force, led by the FBI, arrested at least seven people in three states as part of the raids on the Adrian, Michigan-based group, the Detroit News reported.
Details are still murky because the charges against those arrested are still sealed. But one member of Michigianmilitia.com told the News that “he heard from other militia members that the FBI targeted the Hutaree after its members made threats of violence against Islamic organizations.”
What appears to be Hutaree’s Web site features Youtube videos of heavily armed men in fatigues training in the countryside.
“The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, til the return of Christ in the clouds,” the site’s “About Us” section says. “We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren’t. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming.”
The site also sports a special “Beast Watch” page and outlines Hutaree’s rank system, which ranges from the ordinary (“Senior Gunner”) to the opaque (“Radok,” “Boramander”).
Its not clear how large Hutaree is, but a group picture on the front page of the site shows 17 men, all holding large rifles.
Those arrested are due in federal court at 10 a.m. today, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Here’s one of the Hutaree videos:
Late Update: The charges against nine Hutaree members are here.
Late Late Update: One of the men charged, nicknamed “Pale Horse,” appears to be the same militia member who called for citizens to arm themselves shortly before President Obama’s election in 2008.