Be careful out there on the holiday.
Man accused of planning July 4 terrorist attack in Cleveland
Authorities say the suspect talked about hitting targets like St. John's Cathedral and giving remote control cars packed with explosives to the children of military members.
Federal authorities have arrested a man who allegedly planned a terrorist-style attack in downtown Cleveland on July 4.
The FBI said Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts -- aka Abdur Raheem Rafeeq -- was taken into custody Sunday around 10 a.m. on accusations of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
"He talked about wanting to target people watching fireworks over downtown Cleveland," United States Attorney Justin Herdman said.
Pitts will make his first court appearance at 2 p.m. Monday.
Last week, Pitts allegedly told an undercover agent: "I did tell myself that their holiday is coming up. The Fourth of July. Independence Day. What would hit them in the core? Blow up. Have a bomb. Blow up at the Fourth of July parade."
Authorities say Pitts talked about hitting targets like St. John's Cathedral and giving remote control cars packed with explosives and shrapnel to the children of military members.
"Just last week, this defendant was walking around downtown Cleveland conducting reconnaissance on what he thought was a large-scale attack planned for the Fourth of July," Herdman said. "He looked for locations to park a van that would be packed with explosives."
Among the places he allegedly explored within his plan were Voinovich Park and the U.S. Coast Guard Station.
On Sunday during his final meeting with an undercover agent, authorities say Pitts expressed allegiance to al-Qaeda and discussed his desire to kill military personnel and their families. He also allegedly wanted to conduct a future attack in Philadelphia, a place he previously lived.
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https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/man-accused-of-planning-july-4-terrorist-attack-in-cleveland/95-569777009
Glad they got the bastard before he hurt anybody. Now he can celebrate the Fourth in solitary. :clap:
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 03, 2018, 09:49:12 AM
Glad they got the bastard before he hurt anybody. Now he can celebrate the Fourth in solitary. :clap:
+1