Feds Arrest Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury

I haven't got much time right now to discuss this development, but wanted folks to know about this:

"A 27-year-old Sudbury man allegedly plotted to launch terrorist attacks on shopping malls in which he and his fellow conspirators would mow down civilians with automatic weapons, federal authorities said today as they announced his arrest."

"Desiring to take 'some kind of action in furtherance of jihad,' Tarek Mehanna and his co-conspirators allegedly had multiple conversations about obtaining weapons and randomly shooting people in malls, including discussions of the logistics of the mall attacks, assaulting from different entrances, and attacking emergency responders, acting US Attorney Michael Loucks said this morning."

Gives you something to think about next time you're browsing the shops at the mall.  Pay attention to your surroundings!  The story in the Boston Globe is here,  the search warrant filed by FBI Special Agent Heidi L. Williams is here, and the DOJ press release is here. 

Mehanna was arrested in November 2008 and indicted in January 2009 for making false statements to federal agents about the whereabouts of Daniel Maldonado, a former Methuen MA resident and Muslim convert who was suspected of training at al Al Quaeda terrorist camp.  

Do read the arrest warrant, all 61 pages.  Lots of interesting details.  More on this case later. And more on Ahmad Abousamra, Tarek's co-consprirator.

Comments

[papijoe]

I saw a report that Tariq taught at Alhuda Academy at the mosque of one of the infamous Hamid brothers in Worcester and also attended the Islamic Center in Boston. Usual suspects I suppose...

[MB]

Yes, there certainly are a lot of associations between the MAS, the ISB, and the Lowell and Worcester mosques. All those are also linked to Hafiz Saeed, Pakistani terrorist. I believe the Mehannas attended the Islamic Center of Boston, which is actually in Wayland, not the Islamic Society of Boston (in Cambridge).