Arrest Made in Capitol Terror Plot Sting Operation
Posted by Kaitlin Kindbergh on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 @ 10:37 AM
On Friday, February 17th, a 29-year-old Moroccan citizen was arrested as the culmination of a yearlong FBI investigation. The Virginia man has been charged with plotting a suicide bombing inside the U.S. Capitol. The suspect thought he was conspiring with members of al Qaeda who were really undercover agents. When arrested, the individual was wearing a vest containing what he thought were viable explosive devices given to him by undercover FBI agents. According to reports, the suspect Amine El Khalifi of Alexandria, VA was taken into custody with an inoperable firearm and the inert explosive vest. El Khalifi had openly expressed his desire to attack at least 30 people by targeting a restaurant and building in Alexandria, as well as a synagogue and a place frequented by military personnel in Washington, DC. However, the suspect decided his target would be the Capitol after he conducted surveillance of the building on several occasions. El Khalifi, who is scheduled to appear in court today, has been charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and faces life in prison.
Analyst Comment: While this was a sting operation, officials say that Amine El Khalifi “devised the plot, the targets and the methods” all on his own. Multiple reports say that Khalifi allegedly conducted surveillance of his target, the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. This is common terrorist tradecraft as operatives typically conduct surveillance of targets to determine their security posture. The tactics were apparently chosen by Khalifi, who last year expressed his desire to carry out a shooting rampage in a restaurant. Throughout the last year or so, we have seen numerous plots which have called for the use of small arms; both on their own or in conjunction with explosive devices. In mid-January however, the criminal complaint says Khalifi changed his plans for the attack and decided he wanted to conduct a suicide bombing at the Capitol. There have not yet been any suicide bomb attacks within the United States, but numerous terror plots over the last few years have called for suicide bombings.
To learn more about the arrest and scheduled court appearance, please see the following articles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/federal-agents-arrest-man-who-allegedly-planned-suicide-bombing-on-us-capitol/2012/02/17/gIQAtYZ7JR_story_1.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/22/suspect-in-capitol-bomb-sting-expected-in-court/
