Woman ARRESTED in Deranged Plot to Torch DHS Building!

U.S. Department of Homeland Security emblem on wall.

A stolen ambulance loaded with gasoline cans, a federal building crash, and a failed arson plot that could have killed dozens reveals just how close one Idaho community came to catastrophic domestic terrorism.

Story Snapshot

Sarah Elizabeth George, 43, allegedly stole an ambulance and crashed it into a Meridian building housing Department of Homeland Security offices on February 18, 2026
George pre-staged gasoline cans in bushes near the target, poured accelerant throughout the lobby, but fled before igniting the fuel
Social media evidence shows George posted an AI-generated image of the White House on fire hours before the attack with anti-government messaging
Federal charges carry potential sentences of 5 to 20 years for each count of malicious destruction of government property
The incident fits a disturbing pattern of attacks on federal facilities, including similar arsons in Kansas City, Pennsylvania, and Texas within days of each other

The Meticulous Planning Behind a Botched Attack

Sarah Elizabeth George didn’t wake up on February 18 and spontaneously decide to attack a federal building. According to FBI affidavits, she methodically purchased gasoline cans at Walmart, filled them at a Fred Meyer gas station, and hid them in bushes between St. Luke’s Hospital and her target. Security cameras tracked her every move. At approximately 11:10 p.m., she stole an ambulance from St. Luke’s West location in Canyon County, retrieved her staged fuel cans, and drove the emergency vehicle straight into the Portico North building at 25 mph.

The crash itself wasn’t meant to cause the damage. George poured gasoline throughout the lobby and around the ambulance, creating what would have been an inferno had she completed her plan. Fortunately, the building was empty. More fortunately, George fled before striking the match. Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea didn’t mince words about what could have happened: this was a very serious crime that could have put several people in harm’s way, especially if the suspect had managed to start a fire.

Digital Footprints and Ideological Motivations

George’s social media activity painted a troubling picture of her mindset. On the morning of February 18, she posted an AI-generated image showing the White House engulfed in flames. Her caption read: “If it can be destroyed by truth then it should be destroyed; it was built in lies anyways.” This wasn’t cryptic poetry or abstract political commentary. Within hours, she was executing an attack designed to burn down a federal building. The post demonstrates premeditation and suggests deep-seated anti-government ideology, though George herself has not publicly stated her motivations since her arrest.

Investigators pieced together George’s movements through what Chief Basterrechea called “good old-fashioned police work.” Security footage documented her purchasing supplies, filling gas cans, and traveling between locations in a vehicle spotted near the ambulance theft. The FBI worked alongside Meridian Police, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, and Idaho State Police. Five days after the attack, on February 24, George was in federal custody facing charges that could imprison her for decades.

A Broader Pattern of Anti-Government Violence

George’s attack didn’t occur in a vacuum. Within days of the Meridian incident, similar attacks targeted government facilities across the country. In Kansas City, Missouri, a woman set fire to a building considered for ICE facility use. Surveillance video captured an arson attack on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion. In Commerce, Texas, authorities arrested Jamia Howell after a 36-hour arson spree, discovering nine homemade Molotov cocktails in her possession. These weren’t random acts of vandalism or isolated incidents of mental health crises. They represent a coordinated timeframe of attacks on government infrastructure and law enforcement facilities.

The coordination raises uncomfortable questions about whether these attackers share networks, ideologies, or inspiration sources. Federal prosecutors will likely examine whether George had connections to other actors or movements. The fact that multiple women executed similar attacks against government targets within days suggests either copycat behavior or something more organized. Either scenario demands serious attention from law enforcement and national security officials tasked with protecting federal facilities and personnel from domestic threats.

Consequences and Security Implications

George faces federal charges including malicious destruction of government property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in or affecting interstate commerce. Each charge carries a sentence ranging from 5 to 20 years of imprisonment. Prosecutors indicated the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed. The severity of potential punishment reflects the seriousness of attacking federal facilities and the catastrophic potential of George’s planned arson. Had the fire ignited, DHS employees, first responders, and nearby civilians could have been killed or seriously injured.

St. Luke’s Hospital and Canyon County Paramedics suffered operational disruption from the ambulance theft, though Chief Michael Stowell confirmed patient services continued without impact. The hospital now faces security questions about how George accessed and stole an emergency vehicle. DHS facilities nationwide will likely implement enhanced security measures, including improved perimeter defenses, vehicle barriers, and surveillance systems. The Meridian attack proved that determined individuals can reach federal buildings with dangerous materials, even without sophisticated planning or resources beyond retail gasoline and a stolen vehicle.