The FBI has been working overtime on sting operations, it was evident, when it announced on Friday that it had arrested Moroccan Amine El Khalifi (29), an illegal resident in the United States, for plotting to detonate a bomb in a suicide attack on the United States Capitol Building.
Khalifi's arrest, which occurred as he walked from a parking unit towards the main building wearing an inert bomb vest earlier supplied to him by an undercover FBI officer, comes in the wake of a string of similar operations that has netted the FBI numerous would-be terrorists in recent years.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit, in January 2011, “a confidential human source reported to the FBI that El Khalifi met with other individuals at a residence in Arlington, Virginia.” Media reports however noted that more than a year back it was Khalifi's landlord, Frank Dynda, who had alerted authorities to his presence after Khalifi threatened to beat him up.
The FBI case against Khalifi noted that during the various meetings he had at that residence, “one individual produced what appeared to be an AK-47, two revolvers and ammunition... and Khalifi allegedly expressed agreement with a statement by this individual that the “war on terrorism” was a “war on Muslims” and said that the group needed to be ready for war.”
With an undercover officer only known as “Yusuf” assigned to the Khalifi case, the FBI affidavit further said that throughout December 2011 and January 2012, Khalifi had described to Yusuf his proposed targets in a bombing attack, including a building that contained U.S. military offices, a synagogue and a restaurant frequented by military officials. He also spoke of a “his desire to conduct an operation in which he would use a gun and kill people face-to-face,” the FBI said.
Today's case underscores the continuing threat we face from homegrown violent extremists,” said Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, adding, “Thanks to a coordinated law enforcement effort, El Khalifi's alleged plot was thwarted before anyone was harmed.” Authorities were quick to reassure that the explosives and firearm that Khalifi sought and attempted to use had been rendered inoperable by officers and at no time posed a threat to the public.
“This individual allegedly followed a twisted, radical ideology that is not representative of the Muslim community in the U.S.,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge, James McJunkin. “He became known to the Joint Terrorism Task Force because of his stated desire to carry out attacks in the U.S., specifically, the U.S. Capitol building,” the officer said.
