FBI arrests Islamic terrorist planning attack on the White House

FBI arrests Islamic terrorist planning attack on the White House

A Georgia man, Hasher Jallal Taheb, accused of planning to use an anti-tank rocket and explosives to commit terrorist attacks on the White House and federal buildings in the Washington D.C. area, was arrested by the federal agents today. The arrest came following a months-long FBI sting operation.

Hasher Jallal Taheb has been charged with intent to destroy by fire or explosives a building owned by the US. He was arrested after trading his car to undercover FBI agents in exchange for weapons and explosives, according to ABC, which did not specify what kind of weapons he received.

Taheb had in his possession a hand-drawn diagram of the ground floor of the White House’s West Wing and also allegedly sought to attack the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and a “specific synagogue” in the area.

The FBI reached out to Taheb when he first posted the car for sale in August, learning he was planning to use the proceeds to fund a trip overseas for “hijra,” a term Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has used to describe western fighters’ journey to join its ranks.

Taheb was targeted by Atlanta’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after law enforcement in Cumming, Georgia received a tip last March claiming the 21-year-old had been “radicalized, changed his name, and made plans to travel abroad.” At a press conference on Wednesday, FBI special agent Chris Hacker said he believed Taheb was acting alone.


Author: Chief Assignment Editor

Chief Assignment Duty Editor based in Honolulu

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