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The FBI reported Monday (2/6) the arrest of a sympathetic Al-Qaeda network man who was organizing an explosive attack in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 4th.
Professor Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, who also bore the name of Abdur Raheem Rafeeq, reportedly told a secret agent of the US Federal Police that he intended to blow up a loaded car explosives during public holidays. 19659002] "His desire was to kill military personnel and their families," said FBI agent Steve Anthony, in charge of the case.
FBI and Justice Department officials reported that Pitts, an American citizen with "long criminal history," was arrested after discussing ways to carry out the attack without knowing that his interlocutor was an agent .
According to Anthony, the agents were looking at Pitts a few months ago, after posting positive comments on the Al-Qaeda network on social networks and showing aggressive intentions against the US armed forces.
In one of these messages, Pitts proposed to Muslims to lead to hand-to-hand combat, as well as the use of weapons and explosives. "His Facebook posts are disturbing," said Anthony.
According to his testimony, Pitts was focused on defining the best place for shelling, and had expressed doubts as to whether he had the skills to build or procure explosives. The idea of Pitts, according to the agents, was to use one or more vehicles loaded with explosives and manipulated remotely against one of the parades on July 4th. He also reportedly mentioned the possibility of a "large-scale" attack against Cleveland's cathedral cathedral.
According to officers, Pitts had a firearm and his criminal history includes physical badault, badault and spousal abuse.
The FBI closely monitored Pitts since he had expressed his interest in contacting a "brother".
In June of this year, Pitts finally made contact with a person who believed he belonged to an al-Qaeda operational network, even though he was an undercover agent.
"I'm trying to imagine something that strikes the 4th of July. What can hit them in the face? Explode a bomb in the parades of July 4th, "Pitts told the secret agent
.On Sunday, Pitts found the same" brother ", and" voluntarily expressed his loyalty to the al-Qaeda network and his desire to participate in a terrorist attack on July 4. "
US officials said it's not clear at this point if Pitts had a network of support in the country.
] Charges of attempted material support to a group designated by the United States as "terrorist" were brought against him.
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