4.6 C
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Syrian Man Jailed For 17 years on Terrorism Charges After Planning Attack on Nigerian Church

Date:

Share post:

A Pennsylvania court sentenced 24-year-old Syrian-American, Mustafa Mousab Al-Awaimer to more than 17 years (208 months) in federal prison for his plan to bomb a Nigerian church in Pittsburgh.

The 24-year-old who moved from Syria to the United States in 2016 as a refugee is said to be a member of the feared terrorist organization, The Islamic State (ISIS).

The U.S. Department of Justice said Allwemer pleaded guilty on Sept. 16, 2021 in the Western District of Pennsylvania to attempting to materially supporting ISIS in connection with its plan to attack a Nigerian church in Pittsburgh identified as “Christian Church of Nigeria.”

Syrian

“Alwemer has admitted planning a deadly attack on a church in Pittsburgh on behalf of ISIS,” Matthew J. Olsen, assistant attorney general for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement.

“The Department of Homeland Security was created to protect the nation from terrorist threats, and we remain vigilant to those planning violent attacks on American soil to promote extremist ideologies,” he said.

Also, read; Alabama, Tennessee, Vermont, Oregon Remove Slavery Loopholes From Constitutions

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Cindy K. Chung, said: “The defendant’s plan to blow up a church in Pittsburgh and risk death or injury to residents in the name of ISIS, was thwarted by the extraordinary work of the Pittsburgh Joint Terror Task Force. Our office will continue to hold accountable those who threaten the security of our communities.”

Court documents showed that Alwemer planned to use an explosive device to blow up the Nigerian church on the north side of Pittsburgh.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that Alwemer’s motive for conducting such an attack was to support the cause of ISIS and to inspire other ISIS supporters in the United States to unite and commit similar acts on behalf of ISIS.

The statement notes that in support of the church bombing in May 2019, Alowemer distributed various intelligence documents regarding the construction and use of explosives and IEDs to an individual believed to be an ISIS supporter who, however, in reality, was an FBI employee.

Syrian Man Jailed For 17 years on Terrorism Charges After Planning Attack on Nigerian Church

He distributed the documents with the intention of using the information to assemble a destructive device and aid in an attack in support of ISIS in June 2019.

He bought several items, including nails and acetone (nail polish remover), believing them necessary to assemble a destructive device and intending to use them to create explosives to be detonated near the church.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Related articles

Alicia Keys, Roc Nation Rally Behind 12-Year-Old’s Effort to Save School’s Performing Arts Program

In a heartwarming display of support, Alicia Keys and Roc Nation have joined forces to back a determined...

Jenifer Lewis Expresses Gratitude to Kenyan Hospital Staff Following Traumatic Fall

Renowned US actress Jenifer Lewis, famed for her role in the comedy series Black-ish, recently opened up about...

Dexter Scott King, Son of Martin Luther King Jr., Passes Away at 62

Dexter Scott King, the son of the legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has passed away...

7 Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King Jr. As We Celebrate His Legacy

As we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it's an opportune moment to delve beyond the familiar narratives...