§2332f Bombings of Places of Public Use, Government Facilities, Public Transportation Systems and Infrastructure Facilities

Summary

Makes it a federal crime to unlawfully place, detonate, or use explosives or other deadly devices at public places, government buildings, public transit, or infrastructure when done to kill or seriously hurt people, or to cause large destruction that is likely to cause major economic loss. Trying to do it or planning it with others is also a crime. Punishment is the same as under section 2332a(a). The United States can prosecute when the attack happens in the U.S. and has certain foreign links (for example, targets a foreign government or embassy, tries to force another government, happens on a foreign ship or plane, or involves foreign or stateless people), or when it happens outside the U.S. but has U.S. links (for example, a U.S. national is involved, a U.S. victim, the attacker is found in the U.S., it tries to force the U.S., it targets U.S. facilities, or it happens on a U.S. ship or plane). The rule does not cover lawful military actions during armed conflict, official acts by a state’s military, or routine crimes inside the U.S. between U.S. citizens where jurisdiction rests only on nationality and the act has no major effect on interstate or foreign commerce. Defined terms (short): “serious bodily injury” — grave physical harm; “national of the United States” — a U.S. national; “state or government facility” — places used by government officials; “intergovernmental organization” — international bodies of governments; “infrastructure facility” — systems that provide public services like water, energy, or communications; “place of public use” — locations open to the public; “public transportation system” — services and vehicles used to move people or cargo; “explosive” — an item able to kill, seriously injure, or cause large damage; “other lethal device” — weapons that can kill or harm using toxic agents, biological agents, toxins, or radiation; “military forces of a state” — a state’s armed forces and those under their command; “armed conflict” — true war between forces (not riots or isolated violence); “state” — a country, including its political parts.