WASHINGTON (KDKA) — A Pittsburgh resident was arrested on terrorism charges after he allegedly was planning to attack a church on the North Side.
Mustafa Alowemer, a 21-year-old man that was admitted to the United States as a refugee from Syria, is facing one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and two counts of distributing information relating to an explosive, destructive device or weapon of mass destruction.
“Targeting places of worship is beyond the pale, no matter what the motivation,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “The defendant is alleged to have plotted just such an attack of a church in Pittsburgh in the name of ISIS. The National Security Division and our partners will continue our efforts to identify and bring to justice individuals in our country who seek to commit violence on behalf of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. I want to thank the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this investigation.”
According to an affidavit, the FBI Pittsburgh Joint Terrorism Task Force, an investigation revealed that the man had plotted to place a bomb on the church and he was inspired by ISIS.
More: Target was a black church:
A Syrian refugee living in Pittsburgh was arrested Wednesday in an alleged plot to blow up a church in the name of the Islamic State.
Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 21, is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, as well as two counts of distributing information relating to an explosive, destructive device or weapon of mass destruction.
Alowemer was born in Daraa, Syria, and admitted to the U.S. as a refugee on Aug. 1, 2016, federal prosecutors said according to the criminal complaint against him. He recently graduated from a Pittsburgh-area high school and does not hold a U.S. passport.
Prosecutors allege that Alowemer said he was planning an attack against the Pittsburgh church in order to “take revenge for our [ISIS] brothers in Nigeria.” Alowemer allegedly plotted to attack the Legacy International Worship Center, a majority black church on the city’s north side, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Thank you, Sassy, Richard, M., and all who sent in related materials.
He arrived in August 2016. His target is a Black church.
https://dailycaller.com/2019/06/19/syrian-refugee-isis-plot-church/
It takes a police state to keep America great. I think Trump said that
Maybe “policed” state?
Very different meaning.