A man with suspected Antifa sympathies pleaded guilty on Friday to detonating an explosive device filled with nails outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office earlier this year, according to the Department of Justice. 

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive device he set off during the early morning hours of Feb. 24 outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in downtown Montgomery. No injuries were reported. 

Calvert admitted during the plea hearing to manufacturing the device himself, using items such as nails and screws to act as shrapnel along with accelerants to cause an explosion. The DOJ has said Calvert filled the device with nails to maximize its destructive capability.

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After placing the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and fled the scene. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10.

He had previously posted Antifa content on social media, expressed his belief that violence should be directed against the government and placed Antifa stickers near the scene of the crime, the DOJ said. Calvert claims he has no affiliation with Antifa, short for "antifascist," a far-left militant movement that sees itself as a descendant of the European anti-Nazi movements, and generally agrees that the best way to combat ideas they find odious is not through speech or debate but by direct action and physical confrontation.

Calvert faces between five and 20 years in prison. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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"This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable."

Court documents also said the man was "dangerous" as he had "described his inability to control his own violent, aggressive impulses."

Some of the stickers allegedly posted by Calvert around the area included one that had "An Antifa logo superimposed over a rainbow flag background, with the words, ‘ANTI- FASCISM IS COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE,’" according to court documents. 

Others called to "ABOLISH PRIVATE PROPERTY" and "EAT THE RICH." The "A" inside the word "EAT" was in the shape of the anarchy symbol, according to court documents. 

Others reportedly read, "DEATH TO FASCISM," "ARM THE HOMELESS," "F--K WORK LET’S RIOT!" and "NEVER WORK."

ATF Director Steven Dettelbach said Calvert perpetrated an attack on the American justice system.

"Violent, targeted attacks like this, aim to harm, whether physically or through fear and intimidation, the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country," Dettelbach said. 

"ATF is committed to holding those who attack American institutions accountable. I commend the work of the ATF and all our federal and local partners in bringing this defendant to justice."

Fox News’ Hannah Grossman contributed to this report. 

Frozen waffles have been a breakfast staple in the United States for over half a century, and the word "waffle" first appeared in the English language in the 18th century, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 

Now, a Hong Kong twist on the waffle, known as the "bubble waffle" or "egg waffle," has made its way to the U.S. in recent years — proving to be popular and delicious (and not just for breakfast). 

Fox News Digital spoke to two chefs about what makes this waffle variation so appetizing. 

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"Bubble waffle, also known as 'egg waffle' or 'gai daan jai' in Cantonese, is a popular street food that originated in Hong Kong around the 1950s," food blogger Jessica Chan told Fox News Digital in an email.

Chan, a former chef, is based in New York City; her food blog is "Jecca Chantilly." 

The waffle "was created as a means to use leftover eggs and flour to minimize food waste," she explained. 

The treat gained popularity, she said, because of "its unique playful shape and flavorful taste." 

"As the name suggests, egg waffles have a subtly sweet and egg flavor," Chan said. 

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Its other name, bubble waffle, refers to the grid of "bubbles" that are present on the waffle's surface. Rather than indents, like other waffles, bubble waffles "have a honeycomb-like structure with a grid of small 'bubbles,' each about the size of a quail egg," Chan said.

The addition of eggs in the batter, chef George Duran told Fox News Digital in an email, is why the waffles have a "signature light and fluffy texture." 

The bubbles, however, come from the mold used to cook the waffles. 

"A regular waffle iron just won't do," he said. These specialty irons can be purchased online in both electronic and stove-top forms. 

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After the waffle is cooked, it is often rolled into a cone shape and filled with various toppings. 

These days, Chan noted, "modern dessert shops sell egg waffles stuffed with a variety of toppings, such as ice cream, fresh fruit, mochi and chocolate sauce." 

The bubble waffle was a "beloved street food" in Hong Kong for decades and did not really receive international attention until the 2010s, Duran said. 

"The trend spread from Hong Kong to other parts of Asia and eventually made its way to the U.S., where they caught on, particularly in major cities like New York and Los Angeles," he said. 

Social media, especially Instagram, is partly responsible for the bubble waffle's rise in popularity, Duran said. 

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"Their Instagram-friendly appearance and the ability to be customized with a variety of toppings, such as ice cream, fruit and sauces, helped them gain popularity among food enthusiasts," he said of bubble waffles.

"In the U.S., bubble waffles have been embraced as a trendy and visually striking dessert, often featured in food festivals, trendy eateries and social media posts," he said, adding that the food is "a testament to the growing global fascination with unique and photogenic foods." 

Here's Duran's recipe to make a bubble waffle at home. 

1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat bubble waffle maker.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3. In another bowl, beat the eggs and then add the milk, vegetable oil and vanilla extract until combined.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter should be smooth but slightly thick. Try to avoid over-mixing.

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5. Lightly grease the waffle maker with non-stick spray or brush with a little oil. Pour enough batter into the preheated bubble waffle maker to cover the surface. Close the lid and cook until the waffle is golden brown and crispy, somewhere between 2 and 4 minutes. 

6. Carefully remove the waffle and let it cool slightly. Serve bubble waffles plain or with toppings like fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, Mighty Sesame Tahini or ice cream.