Sniper’s nest, covered trenches found at Donald Day’s off-grid Arizona home

Chilling new details have emerged of how the US extremist accused of inciting the Wieambilla killers allegedly built covered trenches and a sniper’s nest at his off-grid home.

EXCLUSIVE

The US extremist accused of inciting the Wieambilla police killers allegedly fortified his off-grid home with covered trenches and a sniper’s nest to attack any law enforcement officers who visited him.

It can also be revealed that Donald Day Jr – who was arrested by the FBI this month – has a criminal record that a judge concluded was “consistent with the pattern of actions against law enforcement officers and specific threats of violence” of which he is now accused.

The chilling details have emerged after a year-long probe prompted by Day’s online interactions with Gareth and Stacey Train, who along with Gareth’s brother Nathaniel killed police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow when they walked on to their remote Queensland property last December. Neighbour Alan Dare was also killed.

Donald Day Jr was arrested by the FBI earlier this month in Arizona. Picture: YouTube

At Day’s arraignment hearing in Arizona, federal judge Camille Bibles was told that he had gas masks and body armour at his home, as well as covered trenches and what appeared to be “a sniper nest on a CONEX box” – a shipping container developed during the Korean War.

She said these discoveries were “consistent with an ability to carry out threats made relating to law enforcement on his property”.

In a written statement on her decision to detain Day until his trial, Ms Bibles also referred to his “substance use history, violent behaviour history, evidence of possession of weapons despite being a prohibited possessor”.

And while she did not spell out his criminal record, she said she was presented with “credible testimony and information” that included details of his “prior arrests and convictions which, although older, are consistent” with the allegations against him.

Footage of the arrest of was captured by a witness. Picture: Supplied

Day has been charged with making threats in online videos to kill any law enforcement officers who came to his home, as well as World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Ms Bibles concluded that he represented both “a danger to the community” and a “flight risk” if he was released prior to his trial, which is currently scheduled for February.

It was revealed last week that Day praised the Wieambilla killers online and boasted that he was “an x-con who’s armed to the teeth”.

“It is no different for us. The devils come for us, they f***ing die. It’s just that simple,” he allegedly said.

FBI agents arrested Day in the parking lot outside a petrol station and a Dairy Queen restaurant in Heber-Overgaard, rather than at his remote property about half an hour north of the small town.

Witnesses told local media outlets that he was stopped outside his grey pick-up truck by at least 20 officers “in full tactical gear and camouflage vests with guns drawn”.

Originally published as Sniper’s nest, covered trenches found at Donald Day’s off-grid Arizona home