Seattle: Agents arrested two men in a terror plot sting after one of them arrived in Seattle from Los Angeles intent on attacking a military recruiting station to “wake the Muslims up’’ to defending their religion from US actions abroad, authorities said on Thursday.
Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, of Seattle, and Walli Mujahidh, also known as Frederick Domingue Jr, of Los Angeles, were arrested on Wednesday night after they arrived at a warehouse to pick up machine guns to use in the attack, an FBI agent wrote in a criminal complaint.
The men could face life in prison if convicted.
The Homeland Security Department said in a May 31 assessment with other organisations that it did not think it likely there would be coordinated terrorist attacks against military recruiting and National Guard facilities.
The agencies agreed, however, that lone offenders or groups would continue to try to launch attacks against these facilities.
“Our review of attempted attacks during the past two years suggests that lone offenders currently present the greatest threat,’’ said the assessment.
Recently, inciters of terrorism have encouraged their followers to focus on simple attacks.
Authorities learned of the Seattle plot early this month when a third person recruited to participate alerted the Seattle Police Department, the complaint said.
Investigators immediately began monitoring the men, and the confidential informant continued to string them along, promising to obtain weapons.
The building, the Military Entrance Processing Station on East Marginal Way in Seattle, also houses a day care facility. Recruits for all military branches are screened there.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, June 24, 2011, 12:25