ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A 23-year-old Michigan man accused of trying to set off a bomb at the Republican National Convention has been arrested.

RNC Coverage

Matthew B. DePalma, of Flint, Mich., has been charged with illegally possessing Molotov cocktails. He was arrested Saturday in south Minneapolis.

According to a news release from the FBI, DePalma allegedly plotted to set off either Molotov cocktails or a chemical bomb in the tunnels near the Xcel Energy Center, hoping it would cause a power outage. The news release said that according to an FBI affidavit, DePalma also described a plan to use napalm-filled Molotov cocktails on the streets against police officers.

DePalma said he wanted to bomb the Xcel on the first or last day of the convention. DePalma said if he bombed the Xcel on the first day, officials might call off the convention because "a power outage would say a lot," according to the affidavit.

DePalma said if he bombed the Xcel on Thursday, the last day of the convention, it would "end with a bang," the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, DePalma became known to the FBI in July, when he attended the CrimeThinc Convergence near Waldo, Wis. During that event, DePalma allegedly said he was going to attend the RNC, and also expressed his desire to "make some bombs" and “blow up” things during the convention.

The affidavit states that DePalma discussed with a FBI source his desire to make Molotov cocktails, describing in detail the use of ingredients that would make the flammable liquid more viscous so that it would stick to a target and burn longer and hotter than an ordinary gasoline-based Molotov cocktail.

The affidavit states that DePalma went to a library in Minnesota on Aug. 18 and spent 90 minutes researching recipes for explosive devices.

DePalma's next court appearance is Friday in Minneapolis.